PETALING JAYA: MCA will continue to uphold the spirit of the Federal Constitution and defend the values of multiculturalism and moderation, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

The MCA president said these principles had always been MCA's political pathway since the party was founded when fighting for the nation's independence.

"Therefore, whether to leave or stay put in Barisan Nasional, or on the collaboration between Umno and PAS, MCA continues to uphold the above principle as its utmost guidance.

"When I was running for the party presidency in October and became the party’s president from November last year, I clearly stated MCA’s stand, which is for Barisan to be a political coalition that represents all races.

"We are always doing our best to ensure that Barisan practices multiculturalism and moderation, so that it will not head towards becoming a political coalition that fights only for the interest of a single religion or race," he said in a statement on Thursday (Sept 19).

Wee said the cooperation between Umno and PAS must also be accountable to all Malaysians as well as adhere to the principles that both the parties signed in their charter last weekend.

The principles include, among other things, to abide by and uphold the Federal Constitution as the supreme law of the country, Islam as the official religion of the Federation, preservation of the special rights of Malays and Bumiputeras, as well the rights of other races, the safeguarding of Bahasa Melayu as the national language and a guarantee to protect Malaysia’s multiracial society.

In addition, there must be constructive suggestions to ensure inclusive development policy, and a balanced distribution that will ensure social justice regardless of race and religion.

Dr Wee said the cooperation between Umno and PAS "must not pose any threat to the country's existing secular system."

"If the collaboration resorts to a singular religion and race that shakes up the multicultural secular system enshrined in the Federal Constitution, MCA will not tolerate it and shall not waver in asserting a definite and firm stance," he said.

Wee pointed out that the 2018 electoral roll showed that there were 69 constituencies that were made up of more than 40% of Chinese and Indian voters.

That, together with 31 seats in Sarawak and 25 seats in Sabah, took the total to 125 seats whose voter demography reflected the nation's multiculturalism.

"Therefore, it is only by defending the spirit of multiculturalism and moderation that the country would continue to enjoy peace and harmony.

"Not only will a political party that promotes singularity go against the country’s multiculturalism, it is also impossible for it to be the ruling government and will eventually be despised by its people," he said.

Last Saturday (Sept 14), both Umno and PAS signed the joint charter, marking their official political cooperation between the two largest Malay-based parties in Malaysia.

The charter was signed during the two-day Himpunan Penyatuan Ummah (Ummah Unity Gathering) and was witnessed by leaders and thousands of supporters from both parties.