PUTRAJAYA, Oct 12 — MCA should consult party members and even the public to see if it should remain in Barisan Nasional (BN) following recent racial incidents in the country, former president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said today.
Ong said that would be his course of action to handle the issues involving MCA and its partners in the BN coalition were he still the head of the party.
"So far, by and large the MCA grassroots have a lot of grouses, if not nervousness over the situation and the future," he said at a news conference with other senior BN leaders here.
"If need be, I would maybe go for a referendum in the party or the community on whether MCA should stay in the coalition," Ong added.
MCA's grassroots leadership recently went head-to-head with their BN colleagues in Umno over the September 16 pro-Malay Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu rally, where sections of red T-shirt clad protesters reportedly racially abused the ethnic Chinese and clashed with riot police in an attempt to march through Petaling Street.
Datuk Seri Najib Razak's tacit support for the rally also lad to MCA Pasir Gudang Youth chief Cia Cow Hui declaring that his wing was severing ties with the prime minister and Umno president.
Cia’s outburst earned rebuke from several Umno leaders, who told MCA to leave the ruling BN coalition if they were unhappy.
MCA has since said they will remain in support of Najib's leadership, despite the racial overtures by some members of Umno.
