Najib says he won’t interfere in MCA decision to sack Soi Lek

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KUALA LUMPUR: The Prime Minister said he would not interfere in the MCA’s decision to sack Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek unless if he was invited to become an intermediary.

Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak also said that MCA’s president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Kiat had the right to make any decision while taking into consideration the interest of Barisan Nasional.

“As chair of the Barisan, I can’t interfere in the workings of the component party. It is up to them to decide the appropriate cause of action,” he told reporters after his visit to the permanent secretariat of the World Islamic Economic Forum Foundation here on Thursday.

Najib was asked to comment on Dr Chua’s sacking on Wednesday following the party’s presidential council’s decision to accept its disciplinary board’s recommendation that Dr Chua should be sacked from the party.

He said he was briefed by Ong and two of MCA’s vice presidents of the decision and its rationale.

“My only concern as chairman of Barisan is to ensure that whatever action is taken by the component party does not affect the overall interest of Barisan.

“That was the only point I put across to the MCA president. That is it his right. It is within his purview to decide whatever decision to take but please take into account the impact on Barisan in terms of the interest of Barisan.”

Asked whether he would interfere if the situation worsened in MCA, he said Barisan could not interfere directly except if it was invited as an intermediary.

He said he would keep tabs on the development of the party.

“The faster MCA resolve it, the better for Barisan,” he added.

To a question on whether Barisan would call a meeting to discuss the matter he said: “Not immediately. We’ll be keeping tabs on the development.”

Asked whether the problem could affect voters in future elections, he said Barisan wanted a strong MCA that could represent the aspirations of the Chinese community.

“That’s where the interest of Barisan lies.”

On speculation whether he had asked the MCA to reconsider the decision he said: “There are all kinds of speculation in the market. Don’t believe whatever is in the media. The important thing is, I operate on the basis of principle.”