Stop pointing fingers, Zahid tells leaders
PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has called for a “ceasefire” between Umno information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa and MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong over their public spat following Barisan Nasional’s poor showing in GE14.
He said both Umno and MCA needed to stick together in Barisan so that the coalition could continue under the same platform.
“Both leaders are only voicing their personal opinions and not the official stand of Umno or MCA,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Dr Ahmad Zahid said the failure to defend many parliamentary seats for Umno and MCA was a reality that needed to be accepted due to the political hatred which had been sown by the other side among the people.
“There is no need to point fingers among leaders. Both leaders (Dr Wee and Annuar) must be united in mobilising efforts to become an effective opposition,” said Dr Ahmad Zahid.
In a postGE14 interview, Dr Wee said that the party was ready to rise up again and evolve as a completely reformed and independent entity.
He said the party, bound by the Barisan spirit, seldom spoke openly on what transpired during Cabinet meetings.
This was perceived by some parties that MCA had not been able to speak up for them or do anything for them, he added.
Dr Wee said the perception had been compounded by negative statements on MCA and the Chinese community made by other Barisan component party leaders.
In an interview with Sin Chew Daily on Saturday, Dr Wee said MCA would no longer be responsible for whatever Umno says today, adding
that any future political cooperation would no longer see MCA becoming subservient to allies.
Annuar responded that Umno should stop “carrying” its Barisan partners and saving it from further defeat.
He said Umno had never issued any statement on the failures of its Barisan allies out of respect for them and decorum.
Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman said that it was unfair for Dr Wee to blame Umno alone for Barisan’s defeat in GE14.
“What happened is not because
of Umno. We have worked so hard.
“Where are Umno’s faults? Umno is not wrong, MCA is in the wrong,” he said here.
MCA publicity bureau chairman Datuk Chai Kim Sen advised Umno and MCA to stop the blame game and instead take collective responsibility for the poor results of the coalition in GE14.
“We contested side by side under the same flag which flies the Barisan insignia and lost as one. Now, we shall all bear the responsibilities together. If we instead choose to redirect the blame to everyone but ourselves, it would be clear that we
have learnt nothing from our defeat,” he said in a statement.
Chai expressed regret that Annuar had not only overreacted to Dr Wee’s comment but also presented his rebuttal in “a most unsightly manner, debasing MCA in the process”.
“This is precisely the type of behaviour that became the impetus to Barisan’s downfall,” he said.
Chai said MCA would continue honouring its role to play a constructive and effective opposition.
“Naturally, we also hope that Umno can move forward in a similar direction,” he added.