Najib tells warring BN parties to zip it

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today instructed BN component parties not to openly quarrel over the rights to contest in certain seats.

MIC president Dr S Subramaniam said this after attending the BN presidential council meeting that was chaired by Najib this evening.

"(Najib instructed) that any internal problem should be resolved and the parties and leaders should not openly fight for the same seat," Subramaniam told reporters.

He said any decision on the rights to be fielded during the next general election would be decided by consensus within the BN structure.

While stating today's meeting did not name any specific seat, the health minister believed Najib's instruction included Cameron Highland as well.

"Najib said this (quarrel) should be avoided and nobody should come up with any statements that could be seen as disrespect to leadership," Subramaniam added.

Kayveas: Najib will be fair

The president of myPPP, M Kayveas, who has openly stated his wish to be fielded as BN's candidate for Cameron Highlands, said he believed that Najib will act fairly in deciding how seats would be distributed.

"I believe he will make a decision that is fair to all parties, including on the Cameron Highlands seat," he said.

"Seats that they (BN and its chairperson) believe the incumbent party cannot win, will probably be given to a party which can win.

"The (affected) party will be given another alternative seat," Kayveas told reporters.

At a press conference earlier, Najib said BN would make a decision on the tussle between MIC and myPPP.

"We will resolve this through the BN consensus method. They agreed to this... They will accept the decision made by BN.

"It is not a question of lobbying. (What is important is) the people's choice. That should be the prevailing consideration," Najib said.

Last year, MCA president Liow Tiong Lai reportedly demanded that the electoral seats lent out by the party to BN allies be returned for the next general election.

In 2013 general election, MCA gave up three parliamentary seats to Umno: Wangsa Maju, Gelang Patah and Kuantan. -Mkini