MCA still with BN, says Wee after party’s loyalty questioned

 

MCA president Wee Ka Siong (right) with Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob and other BN politicians at a press conference last week.

PETALING JAYA: A day after MCA’s loyalty to Barisan Nasional (BN) was called into question, the party said it would stick by the BN decision in 2020 to join the Perikatan Nasional government en bloc.

MCA president Wee Ka Siong said the party had collectively agreed with the decision of the BN Supreme Council.

“And as long as BN’s stance does not change, we will firmly hold to the resolution that was reached through consensus, which is a longstanding practice,” he said in a statement.

Wee also said that at its AGM on March 7, the party had decided to remain with BN, which also comprises Umno, MIC and other parties.

And that proves that MCA has no intention to join any other coalition, said Wee, who is transport minister in the PN government.

Wee said BN MPs were called for a meeting on July 29, which was attended by the likes of BN advisor Najib Razak, deputy prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and foreign minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

“I supported the decision made by the BN parliamentarians as it was in line with the 2020 resolution,” he said, adding that MCA would continue to stick with Umno and MIC through thick and thin.

Wee went on to say that MCA had no intention to interfere in Umno’s affairs, adding that the party had the political wisdom to resolve any complications.

Wee’s post follows a Facebook post by Najib in which he gave MCA a reminder of how Umno had supported MCA candidates at elections.

Najib had posted a picture of a woman in BN colours holding up a placard on a rainy day, calling for people to vote for Wee Jeck Seng of MCA.

Jeck Seng was elected MP for Tanjung Piai, Johor, in November 2019 with a landslide victory over Pakatan Harapan candidate, Karmaine Sardini of Bersatu.

Bersatu eventually quit PH to form the current government through the Perikatan Nasional coalition.

In his post, Najib asked if MCA had forgotten who supported them in the by-election. He also asked if they had forgotten who their rival was. “You may forget, but we in Umno will not.”

Najib’s post comes days after Ismail and 18 other MPs including Wee, announced that a total of 31 MPs from BN would continue supporting the government, in the wake of the Umno Supreme Council’s decision to retract support for the Perikatan Nasional government. - FMT