Former MCA president Ong Tee Keat expressed his dismay today over the MCA’s decision to keep standing behind embattled Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
Ong said if it were up to him, he would call for a referendum in MCA on whether the party should stay in the BN.
He said this is because there is clear dissatisfaction among the MCA grassroots and the Chinese community over the situation in the country.
Ong said this at a press conference alongside Najib’s biggest critic, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin, Umno vice-president Shafie Apdal and former Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Junid.
“So far, by and large, I think the MCA grassroots, being part of the community, have a lot of grouses, if not uneasiness, over the situation in the country now, and also for their future.
"But if you ask me what my view is, of course I may handle the situation different as compared to what the current leaders are doing.
“If need be, we certainly need to go for a referendum within the party or community on whether or not we should not stay within the (BN) coalition," Ong said in Putrajaya today.
However, he noted that he was not at the press conference as a representative of the MCA.
During MCA annual general assembly yesterday, Najib drew applause from the delegates when he said he would defend vernacular schools.
Last week, MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong said the Chinese party would continue to support the existing government top leadership despite the "negative issues" from several quarters.
However not everyone in MCA seems to 'kowtow' to the issues, with one of the delegates urging the party leadership to openly call for Najib's resignation, while another asked whether MCA had a share in the RM2.6 billion "political fund".
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