DPM: Umno may have to take on MCA’s role

“If I were a Chinese, I would also not support the MCA.” -Muhyiddin

THE STAR

Umno may take on the role of helping the Chinese community if MCA continues to be embroiled in crisis, said its deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The Deputy Prime Minister said it would not be right for Umno to play the role of the MCA in trying to bring in the support of the Chinese community to Barisan Nasional, but that the coalition could not afford to lose its link with the Chinese.

“But if MCA is in such a state, obviously the Chinese community would not be happy and we don’t want them to abandon the Barisan.

“So, maybe there is no other recourse but for Umno to play that role for the time being to assist them,” he said when commenting on the reshuffle of the MCA presidential council.

Muhyiddin, who is here to attend the World Summit on Food Security, expressed disappointment over the latest development in the MCA, saying that Barisan was worried it would further erode the Chinese community’s support for the party.

Muhyiddin said it would be difficult for Barisan to win the support of the Chinese if the party continued to face a political crisis.

“If I were a Chinese, I would also not support the MCA.

“Let’s face the facts,” he said, adding that his statement might be taken as harsh but that was the reality of the current situation.