Zahid says better MCA turnout due to him 'expressing views'

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi praised BN ally MCA for its improved turnout at a government function in Penang today, attributing the change to him "expressing his views" about the party's poor attendance at two earlier events.

"It is clear today that all levels of MCA leadership in Penang are in full force at today's event," Zahid said.

"This is a positive step by the MCA leadership and I congratulate them on the excellent and immediate action which they have taken (to rectify the situation)," Zahid said after attending a federal government function at Dewan Millenium in Kepala Batas today.

Zahid said although MCA members had attended the two previous programmes in Kuala Lumpur and Negeri Sembilan, their numbers were "not encouraging".

Perhaps, he said, they did not feel that their participation at the events was important.

"It was only after I expressed my views about it that more commitment was shown, it is only after the incident that I see a drastic improvement and it is proven today when they turned up in big numbers," Zahid noted.

He said he had only issued the statement chiding MCA’s poor turnout at those particular events because the party was part of BN.

"They should be around during BN events. But I should not issue any more statements after they show their commitment," Zahid told reporters in Kepala Batas.

He was responding to Malaysiakini's question on why MCA had apparently only taken action after being "scolded" by him.

MCA president Liow Tiong Lai said yesterday that it was "inappropriate" of Zahid to have criticised MCA openly.

In response, Zahid, who is also BN deputy chief, said: "Of course he (Liow) is not happy.

"But if he did not do anything about it, then something is wrong. But today, we can see that MCA's presence in this event is strong.

"He has instructed his leaders to be more proactive and I want to congratulate him for this very proactive and drastic action."

Zahid then said he had discussed the matter with Liow and MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong yesterday and that the two took his remarks "positively" and were satisfied with his views.

Zahid, who is also home minister, said that the relationship among the parties in BN "is always good, and has always been good", despite the incident that took place over the weekend.

Asked whether there has been tension between the two BN component parties since the incident, Zahid shot back, "Never. The tension is only because of the media." -Mkini