Barisan Nasional will not intervene in the MCA leadership crisis unless its assistance is requested and welcomed by all MCA central committee (CC) members, said Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

NONE Speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby today, Muhyiddin, who is also the BN deputy chairperson, said "there is a moral obligation, and there are some people who feel that the prime minister should intervene".

"But the prime minister and I would like to see how MCA manages the situation... if they can do it themselves, the credit will go to them.

"If we come in, it will look like we are intervening... but unless every member on the central committee feels that the ones who can help are the prime minister or me ...we cannot come in."

He said if all the CC members agree that assistance is needed from the premier, only then will there be "legal standing" for him to step in.

"Otherwise we might not be welcomed and (may be) treated as outsiders... that is not good for us," he said.

Signalling that MCA is a major component partner in BN, he said it would be worrisome if the crisis is not solved quick enough.

“The prime minister and I would like to see the leadership problem settled quickly. The issue of who will lead MCA is important because we are worried that, if this drags on, it will not help strengthen BN (or) the government.

azlan “MCA is not the right of an individual... MCA does not belong to (its president) Ong Tee Keat or (former deputy Dr) Chua Soi Lek, but to the people and the Chinese community.

“I’m sure the Chinese community would also like to see MCA resolve their problems quickly...if they do not...it will lead to uncertainty and the people will feel insecure.”

'Abide by constitution'

Asked for his advice to MCA, Muhyiddin urged members to abide by the party constitution and consider the results of the extraordinary general meeting on Oct 10.

NONE This was initiated to resolve the leadership tussle, but delegates booted out both Ong and Chua from their posts.

Although the majority have withdrawn their support for Ong, he has decided to stay on with Liow Tiong Lai as acting deputy.

Asked if Ong should resign, Muhyiddin said: “I don't want to say what he should or should not (do)... there are senior members in MCA who know what needs to be done (and) although I have heard many statements, I don't want to be seen to be meddling in their affairs.

“Let the party decide, but we cannot ignore what has been said by the prime minister. (He) and I share the same view. Most importantly, the integrity and the dignity of the party needs to be protected.”

Najib had previously said that the BN will only intervene when invited by MCA, the second biggest coalition partner in the BN.

Ready to consider EPF proposal

On another matter, Muhyiddin said that the government was prepared to consider a proposal to allow the 2.2 million workers who opted for eight percent Employees Provident Fund (EPF) deduction to revert to 11 percent.

"The government will look into it if the matter is referred to it. The government will consider in terms of what the majority wants," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

The Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) had urged the government yesterday to allow the 2.2 million employees to revert to the 11 percent contribution as they were losing in terms of dividends and final payout when they reached retirement age.

Due to the economic downturn, the government, in November last year, gave employees the option to either maintain the deductions at 11 percent or reduce it to eight percent for a period of two years from Jan 1 this year.

According to EPF, 2.2 million or 40 percent of employees had opted for the eight percent contribution.