Feuding groups in MCA have been urged to show responsibility by striking a compromise to settle the crisis in the party, former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today.

abdullah ahmad badawi pak lah pc 050908 05 He said the crisis should be settled fast to prevent it from worsening as this would not only destroy MCA but also Barisan Nasional (BN).

"It is a difficult and big problem. If they feel responsible, then they need to settle it fast," he said after presenting scholarships and gifts to mark Aidilfitri organised by Yayasan Budi Penyayang in Kepala Batas today.

MCA plunged into a crisis when deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek was sacked by the disciplinary board last week over a sex DVD which had smeared the party's image.

Some 127 students who received offers to study at institutions of higher learning received their scholarships while 350 senior citizens and the disabled (OKU) received hampers in conjunction with Aidilfitri.

Racial ties not good

On another matter, Abdullah said that the Selangor government should have resolved the Shah Alam temple relocation issue much earlier to avoid racial tension.

He said the state government should realise that delay in resolving the relocation of Sri Maha Mariamman temple from Section 19 to Section 23 would lead to trouble.

"I read in newspapers that the Menteri Besar said the Selangor government will find a new location for the temple. This should have been done much earlier," he said.

Abdullah said media reports on the demonstration by Section 23 residents in Shah Alam showed that racial ties were not good and that there were religious problems.

Religious issues should be resolved amicably otherwise it would lead to strong reaction and cause tension among the people, he added.

- Bernama