Najib will not intervene in MCA's internal matters unless invited

2009/11/08

KOTA KINABALU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said he will not intervene in MCA's internal problems unless he receives a clear invitation from the party to do so.

However, he stressed that MCA should solve its problems as soon as possible to ensure a strong and united MCA.

Ask about MCA's Greater Unity Plan, he said the plan was actually put together by the leadership of MCA.

"It is not my plan but that of the leadership of MCA. But they informed me about it and I told them that the most important thing was that I wanted a strong and united MCA.

"Only then MCA can represent the majority of the Chinese community," he said when opening the Liberal Democratic Party''s (LDP) annual congress at 1Borneo here today.

Ask about certain leaders in MCA wanting a second extraordinary meeting (EGM) to be convened, he said: "I dont want to comment because it is important for MCA to find the solutions themselves."

Asked further if he was confident the internal crisis in MCA could be resolved soon, Najib said : "MCA really has no choice, if its internal problems are not settled within a certain period of time, there is a possibility MCA candidates might be rejected when the (general) election comes."

Yesterday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, who is also Umno vice president, had said that the time had come for MCA to ask Najib, who is also the Barisan Nasional chairman, to step in to try and help resolve its leadership problems.

The party held an EGM on Oct 10 in trying to resolve the leadership crisis it is facing but twists and turns took place thereafter with the feuding factions still unable to come to terms.

Now one of the factions wants to hold a second EGM on Nov 28 while the party leadership has slated Dec 5 for MCA''s annual general meeting. - Bernama