MCA says Zahid missed the point, wants clarity on Madani ties

Summary

• MCA vice-president Tan Teik Cheng says BN component parties are still confused about whether to cooperate with the Madani government in the next national polls.

• He says a statement yesterday by coalition chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi that BN will contest under its own banner did not provide clear direction.

MCA is dissatisfied with a statement by BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and remains unsure if the coalition will cooperate with the Madani government in the 16th general election (GE16).

MCA vice-president Tan Teik Cheng said Zahid’s statement that BN will contest under its own banner did not provide a clear direction for the national polls.

“What BN grassroots and member parties are most concerned about now is whether BN will work together with the unity government or Pakatan Harapan to jointly face the next general election. This is the question that Zahid should be addressing.

“As MCA secretary-general Chong Sin Woon stated earlier, MCA has in fact given BN more than two years since GE15 to make adjustments and set a clear direction for GE16, yet BN still has not issued any clear guidance,” said Tan (above).

Commenting on Zahid’s remark that MCA may have the opportunity to contest in the next election, Tan said his party’s leadership has not commenced seat discussions in detail with other BN parties.

Given this, he urged Zahid, as coalition chief, to consult and negotiate seat allocation with all BN component parties rather than announcing it unilaterally.

“The allocation of seats among BN parties, as well as the positioning and strategy for contesting the election, must uphold the BN spirit and be decided collectively by all BN component parties,” he said.

Zahid’s assurance amid calls for MCA to quit

Yesterday, Zahid assured that MCA and MIC would be allocated seats to contest in GE16, amid calls for the two parties to quit BN.

The Umno president also reiterated that BN would continue contesting under its logo in the next national polls.

Last Thursday (June 12), Alor Setar MCA passed a resolution at its delegates’ meeting urging the party’s central leadership to withdraw from BN and the Madani government.

One resolution strongly urged the central leadership to rebuild on an independent and autonomous political path.

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