MCA blasts Khir Toyo and PAS (malaysiakini)

Malaysiakini's report:

Opposition Islamic party PAS today came under fire from MCA for rejecting the appointment of a non-Malay as the acting general manager of Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS).

MCPX

The Chinese-based party - a senior partner in Barisan Nasional - also slammed former Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo over his opposition on the appointment of Low Siew Moi to the top post.

The MCA legal bureau said that the acts of Selangor PAS commissioner Hassan Ali and Khir were insensitive and irresponsible.

The bureau demanded apology from both of them for their statements which were "calculated to sow disunity amongst Malaysians".

The bureau also urged the relevant authorities to take action against the duo if they failed to apologise.

"The MCA legal bureau stresses that any appointment to positions in both the public and private sectors should be based on merit and capability alone and nothing else," it added in a statement today.

Earlier this week the Selangor state government announced the appointment of Low to helm PKNS following the retirement of current PKNS general manager Harun Salim.

A temporary appointment

Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim had defended Low's appointment, stating that she was the most suitable candidate to fill the post for the time being.

Khalid also had said that Low's appointment should not be an issue because it was only temporary as she was needed to stand in to replace the void left by Harun.

Low, who is due to retire this year, was given an extension to undertake the new post.

Low was also quoted in the media as saying that a bumiputera candidate should be appointed to continue steering the government agency.

Many quarters had questioned the decision of the state to appoint Low to the post, stating that the post must be allocated for a Malay candidate.

Hassan, also state executive councillor, had openly expressed his displeasure and had met Khalid over the matter. He said that the party would help the state government find a more suitable candidate.

As for Khir, he had said that Low's appointment had undermined the "capabilities of the Malays to run a company like PKNS".

The MCA legal bureau said that the stand taken by Hassan and Khir was a violation of Article 8 (2) of the federal constitution which prohibited any form of discrimination against citizens.

"Such a statement is also an infringement of Section 3(1) (e) of the Sedition Act 1948 for promoting ‘feelings of ill will and hostility between different races'," it added - malaysiakini.com