MCA demands must not be at Umno's expense

MCA Youth's demands for the Chinese community should not come at the expense of Umno, said Perlis Umno Youth chief Syed Atif Syed Abu Bakar yesterday.

In a statement, Syed Atif said as a member of BN, MCA too needed to understand the grassroots sentiments of the respective race-based parties.

"Telling the government what MCA Youth and the Chinese community want and need as a whole does not mean that he should ask the government to neglect Umno demands.

"Nor should he stop Umno from voicing issues concerning the Malay and bumiputera," he said.

Syed Atif was responding to outgoing MCA Youth chief Wee Ka Siong (above) who during the party's meet this week warned Umno to tread carefully with extreme statements as it has driven Chinese voters away.

He said Umno Youth has been very conscientious in avoiding negative remarks against BN component parties and Wee's statement came as a "shock and disappointment".

He added that MCA Youth should not rock the boat by "crafting a wreckage" and instead embrace the present interparty formula.

"For Umno Youth, we definitely have a lot to say about MCA should we follow his step in the 'bashing business' for personal popularity ," he said.

For example in Perlis, Syed Atif said MCA lost BN's traditional state seat of Indera Kayangan despite being given the privilege of millions in funds to pour into the constituency in the last general election.

"Umno does not even have the luxury to make such request (for funds)," he said.

Syed Atif said he hoped Wee's statement was merely populist in his bid for the MCA deputy presidency.

However, he congratulated the newly elected MCA Youth chief Chong Sin Woon, describing him as a "humble leader".