Kedah Menteri Besar Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah has suggested that his executive councillor Leong Yong Kong to be given time to reconsider his resignation from MCA.

Leong had yesterday announced his sudden resignation from MCA in protest against the party's inability to stop the tabling of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's Private Member's Bill after it received backing from the government.

MCA president Liow Tiong Lai later explained that government's support for the tabling of the Hudud Bill was done without consulting BN component parties.

According to Umno Online, Ahmad Bashah said he had asked Leong to go on two weeks’ leave to think the matter through.

"After his leave, I will meet him but I have already spoken to him on the phone," he was quoted as saying.

Ahmad Bashah, who was in Kuala Lumpur yesterday to attend the Umno supreme council meeting, said Leong's decision came as a surprise to him.

"But never mind, we will resolve this problem in the BN's spirit," he said.

Leong, who is also Gurun state assemblyperson, announced his resignation from MCA yesterday in protest of the Hudud Bill, but said he would leave his position in the state cabinet to BN and MCA to decide.

MCA Youth chief Chong Sin Woon today said Leong should not have made an “emotional walkout”, but instead help the party to stop the bill.