Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad today urged MCA titans Ong Tee Keat and Dr Chua Soi Lek to take the cue from the outcome of the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) yesterday, and resign.

He also called on MIC president S Samy Vellu to step down as well.

mahathir lee kuan yew visit comment 110609 02 As for MCA, Mahathir said the party must choose a neutral candidate to regain the confidence of the grassroots and strengthen the party.

"From a moral aspect, both must relinquish their posts. MCA must pick a leader who is not tainted so that he can gain the support of everyone. Then MCA can be united under one leadership.

"It is clear that both the MCA leaders had lost. So, they must reorganise and look for a new leader,” he said.

Members of MCA are not happy with their leadership and that is the reason why they rejected both of them," he added.

Accept Makkal Sakti into BN

Commenting on the newly formed Makkal Sakti Malaysia party that was launched by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak yesterday, Mahathir said he welcomed the formation of the party.

"I feel the time has come for us to accept this Indian party into Barisan Nasional since MIC's influence has dropped," he said.

In reiterating his call for Samy Vellu to resign, Mahathir said: "I ask Samy Vellu to resign as well. If he resigned, MIC will be given a new lease of life." - Bernama