MCA wants deputy BN chair

UPDATE 2

By Shannon Teoh

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 — The MCA will continue to back Umno as chairman of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

But outgoing MCA Youth chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai says a deputy chairman’s post should be created for the party.

“We support Umno to chair the BN. But we can add another deputy chairman so that one is filled by a leader from the MCA.”

He said this in his speech at the opening of the 45th MCA Youth General Assembly.

Stating that the March 8 general election showed that voters wanted political stability and racial harmony, he said that the BN needed to revise its structure.

“The structure must ensure that the position, importance and representation of all component parties are suitable.

“We understand the desire for reforms among voters. The ‘siege mentality’ that has always existed is no longer suitable,” he said.

Liow, who is running for vice-president in the party elections, added that the MCA has worked with other BN component parties since independence and has always contributed to the spirit and principle of multiracial cooperation.

His stand appears to be a reflection of pressure from party grassroots for a more assertive MCA within the BN framework.

The pressure towards a more vocal MCA stems from the party’s poor performance in the March general election.

Reform has become the catchphrase in the party’s election campaign, and various candidates have been scurrying to represent such a goal.

At a press conference later, Liow was asked if he was suggesting two deputy prime ministers as well.

“Let's reform BN first, then the government. One step at a time,” he said.

Quizzed on whether this would result in other parties such as the MIC or those from Sabah and Sarawak asking for a deputy chairman’s post as well or a rotation system among BN component parties, he clarified that his suggestion was aimed at starting reforms and other suggestions could be studied later.

“Based on the components, the MCA is the second largest party in the BN,” he said to explain this first step.

MCA deputy president Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy, who will be retiring tomorrow, said the suggestion was “appropriate and timely” as “there is no hard and fast rule that says Umno must take up all the senior posts.”

He added that the suggestion was not without precedent, citing Tan Sri Michael Chen’s tenure as secretary-general when the BN was founded in 1974.

“The top leadership in the BN should look at this seriously if they want to have meaningful power-sharing,” he concluded.

BN and Umno Youth chairman Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein accepted that the suggestion was made in “the right spirit” of wanting to revitalise the coalition but that it needed to be discussed by the top leadership.

“There have been a lot of suggestions but we must ensure that the understanding and respect between components is maintained,” he told reporters after attending the opening of the MCA Youth General Assembly.

“It is not for BN Youth to decide,” he said, adding that this was the first time he had heard such a suggestion.

Also present was his counterpart from the People’s Progressive Party, T. Murugiah, who said he supported the suggestion “100 per cent”.

“But I would like to further suggest that there be three deputy chairmen,” he said.

He explained that one would be a Bumiputera, another a Chinese and the third one from the Indian community.

He also used the term “deputy prime minister” in describing his suggestion.