No public bashing, MCA sec-gen urges amid fight between Khairy and Pasir Gudang MCA Youth

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 — The heated exchange of words between MCA leaders and other Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties will weaken the coalition, MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan said today.

He was responding to yesterday’s threat made by BN Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, who is from Umno, to sever ties with Pasir Gudang MCA’s Youth wing if it insists on cutting ties with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak over his purported support for the racially-charged #Merah169 rally.

“So for the coalition, if there is any problem, let us resolve at our platform rather than go exchange views in public. This exchange of words will weaken strength of BN,” Ong told reporters after launching the The Maritime Silk Road China-Malaysia forum today.

“I urge all BN leaders not to bash each other in public. This is a general statement to all, including MCA leaders too,” he said.

Ong added that leaders should instead think of the greater good of the coalition instead of being self-centred and letting their ego get in the way of their duties.

“It is not wise for us to exchange words. To be hero is easy but if you want to resolve this and put this matter at rest is not easy.

“When we openly exchange words, it will be a situation where you cannot retract what you said. Because if you retract, people say you’re a coward. So you have to be very brave and with that what can you achieve for BN?” he questioned.

The Second Minister for International Trade and Industry Ministry also said a briefing had been given to MCA members across board on the issue and reminded them to refrain from making public statements.

Pasir Gudang MCA Youth chief Cia Cow Hui triggered controversy when he announced that his division was severing ties with Prime Minister and Umno president Najib over his expressed support for the #Merah169 rally.

Cia added that he would not support Najib until action was taken against #Merah169 protesters who carried banners that read “Hapuskan SJKC”, which translates to “Get rid of SJKC” — the Malay abbreviation for Chinese-medium schools.