KUALA LUMPUR: DAP's Lim Kit Siang should listen to opposition leaders who raise public concerns instead of labelling them as "cybertroopers" and "propagandists", says MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong.

"The rakyat poking fun at Dr Maszlee Malik over the issue of black shoes and black socks indicate that they would rather see an Education Minister focusing on pressing educational matters.

"But Lim Kit Siang chose to view the collective opinion as a trap set up by cybertroopers and propagandists.

"Does providing feedback make one a cybertrooper? Why dismiss their views … when you should be listening to them?" Dr Wee said a Facebook post on Friday (Oct 19).

In a Facebook post on Friday, the DAP veteran criticised Dr Wee, saying that he, just like the top Umno leadership, was in "deep denial" and refused to admit to the international infamy of the 1MDB scandal.

The Iskandar Puteri MP further claimed that Dr Wee was trying to take the easy way instead of answering for the "deplorable state of education in Malaysia" by "by demonising and bashing Pakatan Harapan ministers and leaders like Maszlee".

Lim was referring to Khazanah Research Institute (KRI)'s report, which stated that Malaysians who received 12 years of schooling only receive only nine years' worth of schooling after adjusting for education quality.

Lim said the Barisan Nasional government and the leadership of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was responsible for the slide in education standards in Malaysia.

"This was the reason for the attempt by the Najib propagandists and cybertroopers – which include Wee and MCA leaders – to divert attention from this shocking state of educational affairs by taking the offensive to demonise and bash Dr Maszlee for being concerned with trivial matters like socks and shoes," said Lim in the posting.

Dr Wee retorted by saying that Lim should be aware that people of all races have spoken out against Dr Maszlee's "absurd remarks".

"There can be only one reason for him to label these people as "cybertroopers" – he hopes everyone will emulate DAP in remaining silent about the plunge in palm oil prices, Malaysia-China ties, toll abolishment, Khazanah's bumiputra agenda, abolition of death penalty, the delay in recognising the Unified Education Certificate, the closure of non-halal stalls at the food festival in Melaka, and many other issues," said Dr Wee.