KUALA LUMPUR, 29 Oct 2009: A resolution to the MCA crisis must be one that makes the party stronger to regain the confidence of the Chinese Malaysian community and the rakyat, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today.
The prime minister said he had met the MCA leaders and wanted them to sort out the problem in the party.
“Given a bit of time, we will find the solution,” he told reporters after chairing the National Innovation Council meeting here.
Najib was commenting on MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and former deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek’s “greater unity plan“, which had come under fire from the MCA central committee (CC) members as some of them claimed that they were not consulted over the details.
When asked to comment on the allegation of insincerity in the “greater unity plan“, Najib said he had advised the MCA leaders that they must be committed to making the party united and strong.
“This is my advice to them that whatever solution has to lead to a stronger MCA.
“I don’t want to debate publicly yet on the possible line of action to be taken,” he said.
Earlier, deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai had reiterated that the MCA unity plan needed to be transparent and understood by all for it to be implemented.
“… We need to get the support of all quarters, including the delegates, and CC and party members. If we cannot understand the unity plan well, how will we be able to see it as effective?” he said, adding that the discussions on the plan last week were only between Ong and Chua, and that he had not been involved.
Asked on the resignations of two leaders in Sabah from their posts in Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Najib said it showed that the two had lost confidence in the party.
“It means that there is a serious lack of confidence that led to their resignations. Why have they lost confidence? I’m sure the people can draw their conclusions,” he said.
Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan resigned as PKR vice-president, while former Sabah PKR deputy chief Christina Liew resigned as supreme council member yesterday. Both remained as party members.
On Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Samad‘s remark today that he would recommend to the PKR supreme council that Port Klang assemblyperson Badrul Hisham Abdullah resign from his seat for non-performance, Najib said Khalid could not instruct Badrul Hisham to do so.
“The [state assemblyperson] can decide on his own. He may not want to resign,” he said.
Earlier this month, Badrul Hisham’s appearance at Klang Umno chief Datuk Mazlynoor Abd Latif’s Hari Raya open house raised questions about his party loyalty. — Bernama
