SHAH ALAM: Selangor MCA has criticised Khairy Jamaluddin for suggesting that the party should leave if it was no longer interested to remain in the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.
Selangor MCA secretary Datuk Ng Chok Sin said the former Umno Youth chief and Rembau parliamentarian has no right to air such views.
“I respect Khairy’s views but he is in no position to say whether or not MCA should leave BN.
“Maybe in three years, when and if he becomes BN chairman, he can say this to us. But, now, he is not the chairman of BN,” Ng told NSTP today.
Ng described Khairy’s opinion as uncalled for and does not think it represented the stance of BN and Umno.
Ng also rubbished Khairy’s statement that MCA appeared to have lost their touch in regaining Chinese support for BN since the 12th General Election Election in 2008.
“This is not true. MCA is undergoing a rebranding process to ensure that we remain relevant to the Chinese community and the people. We have our ways of reaching out to the people.
“This is MCA’s matter and we will decide the party’s direction and future after our (party) election in November,” said Ng.
Khairy last week mooted a suggestion for BN to cooperate with new component parties in regaining support from the Chinese community.
The Rembau MP said apart from MCA appearing to have lost their touch in garnering support from the Chinese community, it also showed an attitude of disinterest in continuing to be part of the coalition.
Another reason was MCA’s unrealistic requests for Umno, including the matter of cooperation with PAS.
Khairy was quoted as saying that, “If MCA is no longer interested in us, thank you, we will find others.”
Khairy’s comments came following a statement made by Kluang MCA division chief Gan Ping Sieu who said leaving BN should be an option for MCA as a mark of protest towards the cooperation between Umno and PAS since the Sungai Kandis by-election.