Ti Lian Ker said MCA had spoken up against the proposed amendments to enact harsher punishments for shariah offences.

He said in 2016, then MCA president Liow Tiong Lai had openly protested the proposed amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act, or RUU355, which was submitted as a private members’ bill by PAS president and Marang MP Abdul Hadi Awang.

Liow had even threatened to quit as minister over the matter, Ti said.

In another instance in 1987, then president Ling Liong Sik took extended unpaid leave which he implied would be indefinite unless the prime minister resolved long-standing issues MCA had presented, Ti said.

“Indeed, there’s no danger of DAP becoming ‘MCA 2.0’ as MCA has discharged its duties in safeguarding the interests, welfare and liberties of the Chinese community despite receiving mostly Malay support under Barisan Nasional,” he said in a statement to FMT.

The former deputy unity minister was responding to DAP’s Ong Kian Ming who had, in a podcast earlier today, said there was no danger of his party turning into “MCA 2.0”.

The former Bangi MP, Malaysiakini reported, explained that the “MCA 2.0” label was used by some when comparing DAP with the Chinese-based party when it came to speaking up on issues before and after it joined the government.

“I don’t think DAP is in any danger of turning into a full-fledged ‘MCA 2.0’ anytime soon,” Ong was quoted as saying.

Ti went on to state that when MCA spoke out against RUU355, the party only had seven MPs.

“Now that RUU355 is expected to be tabled in Parliament this year, it will be interesting to see whether DAP, with its 40 MPs, can take a similar stance as MCA in 2016.”

Two days ago, religious affairs minister Na’im Mokhtar said the proposed amendments were expected to be tabled in Parliament this year after engagement sessions with the stakeholders were completed.