PUTRAJAYA, Nov 13 – Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin reiterated today that Barisan Nasional (BN) will only step in to mediate in an on-going MCA leadership tussle if such intervention is agreed to by the party’s central committee members.
The ruling federal coalition has thus far kept a hands-off policy in dealing with its second-biggest component party, which has seen its president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and deputy Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek fight and make up, only to join forces against a “third force”.
“What we have said previously is that we do not want to interfere and prefer MCA leaders to find the way to a solution for the political crisis, which is taking too long,” the BN deputy chairman said here.
“But what has been said by the prime minister ... if all of the central working committee members agree for us to play a role, then we are ready.
“It is certain that I and the prime minister are ready but we want a consensus because if only two agree and the rest don’t, then it will not happen,” he told reporters after presenting certificates to members of the Malaysian contingent to the World Robotic Olympiad 2009 here.
The Malaysian Insider understands that BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak favours the “greater unity plan” to be implemented in the next six months but is inclined towards fresh polls in MCA in the long run.
The deputy prime minister explained that intervention is an option only if a consensus for it could be reached by the party but stressed that BN has had a role in previous MCA crises.
“I am of the opinion that there must be a solution to this problem, which is becoming more complex, so maybe if they find it hard to solve the problem among themselves, then they might need to find a middleman.
“I remember during Tun Ghafar Baba’s time and Tun Dr Mahathir’s time, there have been cases ... but that is the decision that they themselves must make and it is not because we purposely want to interfere in their problems,” he added.
MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and Youth chief Datuk Wee Ka Siong have recently revealed that they are willing to meet with Najib to discuss ways to resolve the crisis.
Wee had said that that prime minister’s intervention would not be seen as an Umno leader meddling into MCA’s problems.
Today, MCA’s “third force” spokesman Datuk Tan Kah Choun, a central delegate, asked Najib to consult 11 MCA party veterans, in particular Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik and Tan Sri Michael Chen.
Other veterans named by Tan as men Najib should consult were Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu, Tan Sri Lee San Choon, Datuk Dr Neo Yee Pan, Datuk Mak Hon Kam, Tan Koon Swan, Tan Sri Lee Kim Sai, Tan Sri Lim Ah Lek, Ka Ting and Kong Choy.
As a last resort, he added, Najib should consult Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who had “solved three previous MCA crises.”
Dr Mahathir has also called on Najib to help MCA resolve its present leadership crisis.
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