Umno and MCA appear to be on collision course following the latter’s refusal to back down on 13 resolutions passed during the Chinese Economic Congress on Saturday.

“The resolu NONE tions are not only related to the Chinese community but also the future of the country's economic development,” MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek said in a statement today.

Chua said MCA is responsible for reflecting the wishes of the Chinese community, including matters arising from globalisation.

“Otherwise, not only will MCA lose the Chinese community’s support, but it will not be able to justify its political existence,” he said.

He argued that the MCA leadership strongly believes that the party’s struggle is reasonable and legitimate.

“MCA will not be afraid of sharing similar views with DAP in terms of the benefitting the (Chinese) community and (will not) run away from making a stand,” he said.

Chua said this in response to Umno hishammuddin hussein ppsmi languanges debate issue 260209 04 vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein’s (right) statement yesterday, urging MCA not to forsake the interest of the BN coalition in its actions and words.

Hishammuddin’s comments follow similar condemnation by Umno supreme council colleague Shahidan Kassim on Facebook and Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali’s fiery press conference yesterday.

In particular, Ibrahim was irked by the congress’ demand for a reduction in the 30 percent bumiputera equity target and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s statement welcoming wider Chinese involvement in economic development.

Commenting on Hishammuddin’s statement, Chua said it shows that some BN leaders have failed to learn lessons from the March 2008 general election and the public demand for reform.

He said the new MCA leadership is committed to providing this change in order to regain the people’s support and trust.

“If some Barisan Nasional leaders continue to live in their own world, they will certainly push MCA to its doom and it will not bring the ruling coalition any good.

 

“MCA respects the view of ... Hishammuddin but he cannot blame MCA for deviating from the objectives and struggles of BN simply because MCA has a different voice from him or other component party leaders.”

MCA’s unwavering loyalty to BN

In a separate statement, MCA vice-president Chor Chee Heung said the party has never questioned the special position of the Malays as outlined under Article 153 of the federal constitution.

He de NONE scribed the New Economic Policy as having noble objectives but said the affirmative action policy has been abused, as CIMB Group chief executive officer Nazir Abdul Razak (left) has conceded.

While affirmative action is necessary, Chor said this must be based on need and merit, rather than race, in line with globalisation.

The MCA’s position on the economy does not mean that it is being disloyal to BN’s cause, he pointed out.

“MCA has con mca new cabinet member 180308 chor chee heung sistently showed its loyalty to BN. In times when Umno had encountered difficulties in the 1980s and 1990s, MCA never abandoned Umno,” he said.

“Nevertheless, we also have to take cognizance that such a statement from a coalition partner which hinges on political hegemony (would) cause voters to turn away from BN.”

Chor said the outcome of the March 2008 general election has proven that BN’s practice of conducting closed-door consultations (between component parties) is not sufficient to satisfy the public.

“Thus, in moving with the times and in line with social justice, which is very much a BN struggle, MCA voices the rakyat’s feelings,” he added.

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