KUALA LUMPUR: MCA is distancing itself from the discussion of a proposal to nominate Chinese new villages in Selangor as a Unesco world Heritage Site.
Its president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said cabinet ministers should discuss and decide on the matter using their wisdom, while taking Malaysia's diversity into account.
"Let those who are in the cabinet comment. That is the best forum to 'musyawarah' (discuss). Differing views could be discussed internally in the cabinet.
"For me, whatever that is proposed means that it has already been approved by the government," Wee told reporters after MCA's Chinese New Year open house here.
Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming had recently said that the proposal to nominate Chinese new villages in Selangor as a Unesco World Heritage Site was to recognise their cultural and historical importance since they were formed 76 years ago.
He said the matter will be discussed in more detail with the Selangor government.
Yesterday, Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said although the proposal was aimed at empowering the country's tourism sector, the movement was of the view that the implications are too big and would indirectly affect the position of the Malays and Bumiputera.
Asyraf had said the matter is against the Federal Constitution, which only recognised the Bumiputera as original residents who have certain rights.