KUALA LUMPUR: An Umno vice-president has called on MCA to reconsider its refusal to help the unity government's candidate campaign in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.
"As allies in the unity government, we must accept whatever decision is made on the candidate for the seat," Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said in a statement.
He said all Barisan Nasional component parties, including Umno, must accept the new political realities that emerged in the aftermath of the last general election.
"We agreed to form the unity government together. This formula of cooperating (with other parties) has given us a better chance as evidenced by BN's victories in the Pelangai and Tioman by-elections."
Wan Rosdy said while he respected MCA's decision, its refusal to help in the by-election would not benefit them and instead see them drift further apart from the Chinese community.
It was previously reported that MCA and MIC had decided against helping any non-BN candidates campaign in the by-election.
However, earlier today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told reporters that MIC is not boycotting the by-election.
He said he spoke to MIC president Tan Sri S.A. Vigneswaran who told him that the party would help the unity government's candidate in Kuala Kubu Baharu.