H-Net* Opposition slams 'blind loyalty' of Chinese groups

[Concorde]

Opposition slams 'blind loyalty' of Chinese groups KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 (AFP) - Two powerful Malaysian Chinese groups have pledged to fully support Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, but an opposition leader Wednesday criticised their "blind loyalty". The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCIM) and the Federation of Chinese Associations of Malaysiareportedly met with Mahathir on Tuesday. ACCIM deputy president Kok Ping was quoted by The Star newspaper as saying it was the first time the organisations had come together to pledge support for the Mahathir government. "We sincerely pledged to support every measure taken in facing any threat to the integrity and sovereignty of the country, its economy and leadership," Ping said. "This is necessary now since Malaysia is facing various external pressures towards the end of the century," he said. The organisations said they were confident the economy had recovered from its recession and was headed toward growth. The Chinese community was expected to support Mahathir's ruling coalition in a general election due in June, but expected earlier, ACCIM assistant secretary-general David Chua told the New Straits Times newspaper. "The economic performance is one factor. The Chinese community sees the overall picture and we are sure of the support for the present government," Chua said. But opposition lawmaker Lim Kit Siang slammed the organisations' "blank-cheque support" of the government. "The ACCIM and FCAM have the dubious distinction of being the two organisations which have extended total, absolute and blind loyalty and support to the Mahathir government," he said in a statement. Lim asked if the groups were also declaring full support for "all the abuses of power, injustices and violations of human rights which have led to the unprecendented multiple crisis of confidence in the system of governance." ACCIM represents about 20,000 Malaysian Chinese companies, businessmen and trade associations. FCAM is the umbrella body for 13 Chinese assembly halls and has some 100,000 members. Ethnic Chinese make up about one-third of the country's 22 million people.