MCA tables grievances at supreme council meeting

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA has tabled its grievances as a Barisan Nasional component party at the coalition’s supreme council meeting, says party president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

He said MCA’s central committee would be briefed on the matter when they meet on March 17.

Speaking to the media after the supreme council meeting, Dr Wee said the three Barisan component parties – Umno, MCA and MIC – however did not arrive at a consensus to dissolve the coalition.

The Barisan constitution required the consensus to do so, he added. The MCA annual general assembly had on Dec 2 last year passed a resolution calling for the dissolution and to forge new alliances.

This (resolution) was the culmination of issues and utterances from certain Umno leaders which had undermined MCA.

Barisan deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan who chaired the Supreme Council meeting said a technical committee would be set up instead to deliberate on the grievances faced by component parties and find solutions so that the coalition could move forward.

Dr Wee together with his deputy Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon and secretary-general Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun were at the meeting yesterday at the Putra World Trade Centre here.

MIC leaders who were present included its president Tan Sri S.A. Vigneswaran.

On Umno and PAS declaring their formal collaboration on Tuesday, Dr Wee said this was not PAS joining Barisan.

He, however, said the collaboration must not contravene the Federal Constitution and Barisan’s Constitution.

Dr Wee said the collaboration between the two parties which are now opposition parties was to unite the Malays and Muslims.

Meanwhile, Vigneswaran declared that the party has no problems working with PAS although it is not part of the Barisan coalition.

He said MIC stands to benefit from the Umno-PAS co-operation as the two parties had proven in the last two by-elections that they could garner 70% of the votes.

Vigneswaran also noted that unlike in the past, Umno was now more accommodating under the leadership of Mohamad.