KUALA LUMPUR: The backlash against Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong's remarks in an interview could have been due to his words being misinterpreted by the press, according to MCA's Datuk Ti Lian Ker.
Ti said this was because the interview for a Chinese newspaper given by the party's deputy president was given an out-of-context focus and this had resulted in misunderstanding and subsequently inaccurate discussions on the matter.
"I think...the interview in Sin Chew Daily was different than the translation carried by an online newsportal," Ti, who is also MCA's publicity spokesperson said, adding that what the newsportal focused on was then rebutted by Umno information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa which made the matter worse.
"If we look at it, in Chinese...perhaps the context and perspective of Ka Siong saying we do not have to 'carry water for Umno anymore' were misinterpreted. When this is given attention to, it may look like we are slamming Umno as a whole, so it becomes an issue.
"After that Annuar slammed us. So this is never-ending (back and forth slamming). Sometimes in translating, the media misinterprets, or assumes wrongly or (it's a matter of) perspective," he said when contacted by NSTP today.
Ti was asked to comment on Wee's interview with Sin Chew Daily in which it was reported that Wee had said MCA no longer has obligations to side with Umno.
In a report of the interview by The Malay Mail, Wee reportedly said MCA's poor showing in GE14 was due to several factors, including the lopsided leadership structure in Barisan Nasional (BN) where Umno was the leading party and MCA was perceived as subservient.
Annuar later responded, saying that it was time Umno stopped carrying its 'long-paralysed BN ally and save it from further defeat'.
"“Has MCA forgotten that since GE13, they have been crippled? But we (Umno) still carried them. They were given a plump position within the government, in the hopes that they would regain their strength," Annuar said.
Annuar also shot off a parting message to Wee.
“I’m sorry, my friend Datuk Wee Ka Siong. Never try to take us for granted.”