MCA members not affected by Ling’s call to oust Najib, says party sec-gen

MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan today expressed confidence that members would abide by the party's stand to support the Barisan Nasional (BN) led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, despite former MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik's call yesterday for Najib's removal. The International Trade and Industry Minister II, who was appointed in the last Cabinet reshuffle in late July, said party division chiefs, along with Wanita and Youth wing leaders, had been briefed on MCA's stand at a gathering late last month. "We have explained everything to them and they support our decision. "Of course, to say Dr Ling as a former president, has no influence on the members, would not be truthful but we have to manage the situation and hope to get this stabilised," he told reporters after launching a national tai chi gathering in Ipoh this morning. Ong said he respected Dr Ling as a senior party leader, however, the latter's personal view no longer represented MCA. "This is a democratic country, anybody can say anything. "I respect Dr Ling as former leader but we have party, society and country to manage. Life has to go on. "This is not concerning only MCA but the unity of Malaysia as a whole." In commenting on Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman's "slap Chinese" threat and the decision by BN and Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor not to demand an apology from the deputy minister, Ong said BN only looked bad if its leaders, especially ministers and deputy ministers, made comments and statements that angered the public. "Now is a challenging time for BN, the less mistakes we make, the better. "If BN wants to remain as the ruling coalition, they need the support of the people and doing something to drive that away is not wise. "What good is making controversial comments that give a negative impression and bickering in public? "I will raise this in the BN forum, to remind component leaders that this will bring BN no good. "In Tajuddin's case, what is so difficult to apologise? If he did not say, it he should clarify and we should discuss this in the BN forum," said Ong. On Thursday, Tajuddin allegedly threatened to "slap" the Chinese if they took their problems here to other countries. He later denied issuing the threat. The deputy agriculture and agro-based industry minister was commenting on the visit to Petaling Street by Chinese ambassador to Malaysia Huang Huikang on September 25, when he reportedly said that Beijing was opposed to terrorism, extremism and any form of discrimination based on race. Ong had demanded for an apology from Tajuddin, saying the remarks had offended all Malaysian Chinese. Ong also said the party will lodge a formal protest via the BN channel for action to be taken against him. – October 4, 2015.