Najib invites MCA to rejoin cabinet, help chart future of nation together

KUALA LUMPUR (May 3): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today invited the MCA to rejoin the cabinet, grow stronger within the BN and help chart the future of the nation together.

Najib, who is also BN chairman, said he would decide the "details" of the matter.

"MCA cannot stay outside the government. You need to be part and parcel of the BN government because, if you talk about being stronger together, you have to be inside the government. We will chart the future of Malaysia," he said.

Najib spoke at the launch of MCA's transformation campaign, themed "Stronger Together", at a unity gathering of the party.

MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, deputy president Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong and other senior party leaders were present at the event.

Najib said MCA's participation in the cabinet would definitely assist the government to plan relevant policies for the benefit of all races in the country.

"I am certainly giving serious consideration to MCA but, as you know, I am like a father who has many children. We (BN) have 13 parties," he said.

Najib also reminded MCA to redouble efforts and discover the real strength to ensure that the party remained strong among the Chinese community.

"I don't want to hear about one million MCA members. I want to know your real strength. So, go down to the ground, meet every member and ask 'are you still committed to MCA? We need to know," he said.

The prime minister advised MCA to be united and discard factionalism in facing the next general election so that the party would be able to field the best candidates.

"Be realistic. We want the best MCA candidates to stand in each constituency," he said.

Najib said that in terms of parliamentary seats won by the party, the MCA went down to 12 seats in the 2008 general election and then to seven in the 2013 election.

"We cannot afford the MCA to go down any further. We want the MCA to go up and up, higher and higher, further and further.

"This is the spirit of the gathering this time, and I will be with you always," Najib said.

-Bernama-