KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional component parties must hold on to the coalition spirit of power-sharing and backing one another, says MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
“We have to return to the core Barisan spirit on power-sharing and supporting each other,” he said.
He also said component parties should contest in their traditional seats and seat allocations should only be decided by the Barisan supreme council.
“I welcome Barisan chairman (Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi)’s speech at MIC’s AGM recently, which is to retain MIC’s traditional seats in the next general election.
“I support this because we should not look at a parliamentary or state seat just based on voter composition.
“Otherwise, our Indian brothers will have no seats to contest because there are no pure Indian seats,” he said after opening the 68th MCA annual general meeting at Wisma MCA here yesterday.
Dr Wee said that MCA, on the same principle, would also want to contest in its traditional seats.
“When he (Ahmad Zahid) replied that he’ll give back the traditional seats and there may be additional seats where the representatives have left, that can still be discussed and arranged.
“But at the minimum, we want our traditional seats and others can be discussed separately later,” he said, adding that it was better when all component parties “sit down and discuss.”
Asked about Alor Setar Umno sending a memorandum to its top leadership requesting the traditionally MCA state seat be given to Umno, Dr Wee said such an “open request” would only “sadden one’s friends and please one’s enemies”, referring to a Chinese idiom.
“If we still use such methods (to say) ‘I want this or that’, then it is bound to be awkward.
“It is better to go back to the leadership level for seat discussions like how we used to do,” he added.
Dr Wee added that MCA would continue to stand by Barisan through good times and bad, “as only Barisan is capable of truly fighting for the future of the people and better govern the country.”
Asked on Ahmad Zahid’s remarks about quickly calling for the 15th General Election, Dr Wee said it was his personal view.
“He also said ‘it depends’. For me, the general election can be called anytime and it is better to be prepared.
“We respect the right of the Prime Minister in advising the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to dissolve Parliament, as provided for by the Federal Constitution,” he added.
Earlier in his speech, Dr Wee said MCA’s achievements in winning two state seats in the Melaka election should spur party members and leaders to work harder.
“We are certainly happy and relieved, but we cannot be complacent or get too comfortable with our victory,” he said.
The AGM took place both physically and virtually.
Also present were other Barisan party leaders, including Ahmad Zahid, MIC president Tan Sri S. Vigneswaran and PBRS secretary-general Richard Kastum.
In view of the floods in numerous areas nationwide, the AGM concluded at 1.30pm ahead of schedule to facilitate disaster relief works.
Dr Wee said all MCA members were instructed to engage in disaster relief upon returning from the meeting.
“The AGM usually ends around 5pm but the flood situation warranted the need for us to prioritise doing what’s necessary, as many people, including children, are still affected.
“We must help to get them all to safety,” he said, adding that the Crisis Relief Squad of MCA (CRSM) in all states had begun relief work.
The attendance at the AGM was about 50.2% involving 1,246 delegates nationwide.
The AGM passed nine resolutions in five areas: party affairs, politics, government, economy and education, safeguarding mother tongue education and multi-stream school systems, upholding pluralism and moderation, freedom and democracy, and opposing radical parties and political figures who violate Malaysia’s social fabric and imposing one’s own religious values on others.