MCA leaders will have a dialogue with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on issues pertaining to the interests of the Chinese community.

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said Najib had agreed to the meeting, but the date had yet to be fixed.

He said MCA had also submitted a memorandum to the prime minister on the Tenth Malaysian Plan (10MP).

The memorandum covers various areas like the economy, education, culture, judiciary, corruption and non-Islamic religions," he told reporters after chairing the presidential council meeting at Wisma MCA in Kuala Lumpur today.

Dr Chua said the meeting today had also deliberated on the government's proposal to increase the premium for third party motor insurance.

"The MCA feels that instead of increasing the premium, insurance companies should cross-subsidise their clients for third party insurance."

Profit of RM1.7 billion

He said in 2008, the premium collected by insurance companies for third party insurance was RM581 million and the claim was RM1.5 billion, while for first party insurance, the premium collected in 2008 was RM4.2 billion compared to RM2.5 billion in claims.

"This means that for first party insurance, the insurance companies still made a profit of RM1.7 billion, so they should cross-subsidise for third party insurance, instead of passing the burden to the insured."

At the same time, he said, the police should also intensify enforcement and be aggressive in collecting payments for summonses issued to traffic offenders as a deterrent to accidents.

Dr Chua also called on the government to conduct a comprehensive study on the country's dependence on foreign labour in every sector of the economy

"While we are concerned about the influx of foreign workers in our country, we cannot deny that we depend on them," he said.

- Bernama