Ti suggested Nazri was predisposed to the DAP over its BN allies and dared the latter to join the Opposition party. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 — Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz hit back at his MCA ally Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker today, calling the latter a “reject” who is unable to garner votes from the Chinese community during elections unlike their DAP political foe Lim Guan Eng.

In an extended war of words, the Umno supreme council member told the MCA central committee member that he respected the DAP and its leader because they had earned it through the democratic process, which he also respected.

“I am good with Lim Guan Eng because I respect democracy as the Chinese community chose Lim Guan Eng and DAP.

“So I have to respect democracy and respect them. Why would I want to respect Ti when the people reject him.

“I am confident even if he were to contest in the general election, the rakyat will also reject him because the Chinese people truly hate people like him,” Nazri was quoted telling news portal Malaysiakini.

The tourism and culture minister also said he has a “good working relationship” with the MCA’s top echelon, but which was marred by members like Ti.

The Umno lawmaker claimed that Ti was unwanted by his own party and was dropped as a candidate in Election 2013 by its previous president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

He insinuated that Ti is on now good terms with the incumbent Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai as he was seeking to contest in the next general elections due in 2018, but suggested it would be a fatal move for the party to field the Pahang native.

“He is good with Liow Tiong Lai so he wants to be a candidate but my advice is if you let him contest in Kuantan, MCA will lose,” Nazri was quoted saying.

Ti has been critical of Umno and its leaders in the past few days, accusing the Malay national party and BN anchor of under-appreciating its coalition partners.

Over the weekend, he suggested Nazri was predisposed to the DAP over its BN allies and dared the latter to join the Opposition party.

Ti asserted that Nazri would not be a Cabinet member if there was no BN coalition, and asked if the Umno supreme council member was prepared to stand as an independent if he thought the other component parties were of little significance.