More Chinese support, more seats in government

Najib dismisses DAP jibes but asks MCA to increase community support for BN

KUALA LUMPUR: More seats for more votes – that was the deal that Barisan Nasional chairman Najib Razak offered the MCA today, to obtain more electoral support from the Chinese community if the party wanted more seats in government.

Speaking at the MCA general assembly, Najib said that there must be give and take to ensure social justice in the country. “You give some but you cannot take all. If you want more, tolong bagilah lagi (please give more support),” he said.

While acknowledging several setbacks for Barisan Nasional at the 2008 and 2013 general elections, Najib took note of an opposition jibe in referring to the MCA as a 7-11 party because it had seven members of Parliament and 11 in state assemblies.

“I know this is a joke but it hurts me when I hear that,” he lamented.

Najib reminded MCA of the importance of party unity in facing the next general election, which must be held by 2018. “There cannot be infighting in MCA, there must be unity,” he said.

He praised the current leadership in MCA and the good relationship between the president (Liow Tiong Lai) and his deputy (Wee Ka Siong),” pointing out that there had been leadership struggles “at the highest level” many times in previous years.

Although his remark was directed at the MCA, it was also a reminder of the division between Najib and his party deputy Muhyiddin Yassin, who Najib dismissed from the Cabinet in late July for muted criticisms on 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

Najib also backed MCA against opposition criticism, mainly from the DAP, of the party’s apparent ineffectual position as a junior partner in the BN coalition.

“MCA is not a silent partner of BN, I can vouch for that,” he said. “MCA gives their opinion, dalam cara yang berhemah (in a prudent manner), bukan cara biadap (not in a rude manner)” he said, in a jibe against the DAP’s strident public stance.

He praised the MCA’s preference for stating their views at government meetings rather than through public statements. This was the advantage of the BN coalition because it showed that the differences could be resolved without airing dirty laundry in public.

“This is the beauty of BN. We don’t have to talk or fight outside,” Najib said.