Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said today he had no part in the MCA elections scheduled for March 28.

Najib, who is also the Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, said he wanted the MCA leadership to be determined by the party members themselves without interference from outsiders and he had explained this to all quarters involved in the elections.

"I am not involved in the MCA elections and I want those elected as the leaders to be those chosen by the MCA members themselves and not someone pointed out by me or anyone else.

"This is an important principle as far as I am concerned; the elections are free from outside interference," he told reporters after opening the new Audi showroom, here.

Najib was asked to comment on the circulation of an SMS that former MCA president Ong Ka Ting had his blessings to contest the presidency in the elections.

SMS mystery

"I did ask Ka Ting (about the SMS) and he said no. So it is a mystery where it came from, not necessarily from Ka Ting. We do not know. Could be reverse psychology," he said.

"Anything can happen and anything is possible in an election," he added.

Former MCA deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek brought up the matter of the SMS yesterday, saying it said that Ka Ting had the blessings of Najib and Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to contest the presidency.

Ka Ting has announced his candidacy for president in the elections.

Incumbent president Ong Tee Keat has said he would defend the post.

Nominations are set for Monday.