Most MCA members don't want Umno to interfere: Najib

2009/09/11

KUALA LUMPUR, Fri: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said today he will not interfere in the internal affairs of the MCA because most of the party members do not want Umno to do so.

"Most members of the MCA do not want Umno to interfere," Najib, who is also Umno president, told reporters after chairing a meeting of the Umno Supreme Council (MT), here today.

He disclosed this when asked on the suggestion by MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, who felt that the MCA internal problem could probably be resolved if Najib were to give his advice to the people concerned.

Kong, who is also the Housing and Local Government Minister, said Najib was very concerned about the problem faced by the MCA and he believed that the Prime Minister's advice could ease the tension between the two factions, namely the supporters of the expelled MCA deputy president, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, and party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.

Najib, who is also the Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, had earlier said that he would not interfere unless asked to become the mediator in resolving the crisis.

The MCA's internal problem aggravated when Dr Chua was expelled from the party on Aug 26 following the sex video scandal involving him in 2007 which was alleged to have tarnished the party's image.

Meanwhile, when asked on preparations to face the by-election for the Bagan Pinang state seat in Negri Sembilan, Najib said Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin would coordinate preparation work with the management committee and the Teluk Kemang Umno liaison body.

The Bagan Pinang state seat fell vacant when its incumbent assemblyman, Azman Mohd Noor, 55, died at the Seremban Specialist Hospital on Sept 4 due to a blood infection. -- BERNAMA