KUALA LUMPUR: An Umno senior leader believes that MCA’s recent resolution to quit Barisan Nasional if any component party cooperates with DAP in the next general election will be discussed by the coalition’s top leadership.
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, however, declined to elaborate further on the matter.
“All of these matters will certainly be discussed,” he told the New Straits Times when contacted today.
Earlier, at the 3rd General Assembly of the 30th MCA Central Committee, MCA passed a resolution stating it would leave BN if any of its component parties decide to work with DAP in the next general election.
President Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said such cooperation would effectively signal the end of the BN spirit.
“If any BN component collaborates with DAP in any form during the upcoming general election, our party will independently determine a new direction,” he said.
Wee said that MCA’s elected representatives have a responsibility to honour the mandate they received under the BN banner, even as questions continue to arise over the party’s future.
Yesterday, MCA Youth chief Ling Thian Siang also made a similar call, urging the party to consider pulling out of the unity government if it continues to be sidelined in policymaking and if long-standing promises to the Chinese community remain unmet.
Ling said the government’s failure to address key concerns had cast doubt on its commitment to fairness, inclusivity and political stability.
He added that MCA Youth would not hesitate to recommend a withdrawal if the government still could not ensure proper annual allocations for Chinese primary schools, continued to treat high-achieving STPM students unfairly, or allowed extremism to flourish.
Another BN component, MIC, has previously expressed similar sentiments.
MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan tabled three resolutions at the party’s 79th convention, including leaving BN and formally applying to join the opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional.
While delegates debated the resolutions, no vote was taken, as the convention agreed to leave the decision to president Tan Sri S. A. Vigneswaran and MIC‘s top leadership.
Vigneswaran revealed that he met Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to discuss the party’s intention to leave BN.
He said Anwar suggested that MIC reconsider the matter, given its long-standing role as a component party.
In response, BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the coalition would accept whatever decision MIC makes.
“I respect whatever decision is made by the delegates and the MIC leadership. Whatever decision they make, we will accept it with an open mind and an open heart,” he said.
The unity government was formed through a coalition of Pakatan Harapan (PH), BN, Parti Gabungan Sarawak (PGS), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), and Parti Warisan after no single party won a simple majority in the 15th General Election on Nov 19, 2022.
PH, which won 82 parliamentary seats, joined forces with BN (30 seats), PGS (23 seats), GRS (six seats), Parti Warisan (three seats), Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM), independents, and KDM (four seats) to form the government.
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