MCA president Wee Ka Siong has ruled out the possibility of the party joining Perikatan Nasional (PN), despite suggestions that it leave Barisan Nasional (BN) for the opposition coalition.
Speaking at MCA’s general assembly, Wee acknowledged there had been calls for the party to reconsider its position in BN and explore cooperation with PN.
However, he said Chinese voters remained strongly opposed to PN because of controversial remarks made by PAS leaders that touched on non-Muslim sensitivities.
“We are very clear about the fact that the Chinese community does not hold a positive view of PAS. In fact, they reject the party,” he said.
Wee said unless PAS undertakes internal reforms and becomes more moderate and acceptable to Malaysia’s plural society, this factor will continue to deter non-Muslim parties from joining PN.
He stressed that MCA must take into account the sentiments of the Chinese community and the realities of a multiracial nation when deciding its political direction, instead of viewing realignments purely as a matter of coalition arithmetic.
