KUALA LUMPUR, April 13 -- Sungai Pelek assemblyman Ronnie Liu was insulting DAP with his inference that it must "out-Chinese" the rival MCA, Damansara MP Tony Pua said.

Responding to reports of Liu saying DAP should not sacrifice its Chinese identity and culture to fend off political rivals' attacks, Pua argued that his party colleague was short sighted as such a strategy would leave it politically dependent on a Malay patron party.

"Frankly speaking, that is perhaps the biggest insult one can throw at the DAP today. MCA has 'Chineseness' themselves into oblivion today. They are completely at the mercy of the whims and fancies of the big-brothers, Umno, Bersatu and PAS who provide MCA with political life-support.

"And yet, Liu wants th...