KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will meet newly-elected MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek soon to get his views on a likely Cabinet reshuffle.
Najib, who congratulated Dr Chua and other winners in the recent MCA election, said a date had yet to be fixed but it would not be long before he met Dr Chua to listen to the latter’s views and suggestions.
However, Najib said, he had yet to decide when the Cabinet reshuffle would take place.
Asked if the positions of Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha would be affected, Najib replied : “ That depends.”
Asked if Dr Chua would be given a ministerial post, Najib said he had yet to make a decision. Dr Chua is not an MP.
“I want to analyse the message sent by MCA delegates and I also need to meet up with Dr Chua to listen to him before making any decision,’’ said Najib.
Speaking to reporters at Parliament lobby here, Najib said all MCA members must accept the result as the election was carried out according to MCA’s constitution.
“All the candidates who contested for the president’s post (Dr Chua, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting) had pledged to unite all factions in the party so that it is solid and strong.
“We need a strong MCA to represent the interest of the Chinese community effectively.
“Time has come for us not to look back but to move forward in carrying out the duties entrusted to us by delegates to restore the confidence of the public in MCA.
“I hope public confidence in MCA is restored,’’ said Najib.
Asked if he thought the party crisis had ended, Najib said he hoped the leaders walked the talk.
“After the election, there should be no more factions and only one MCA,’’ said Najib.
He also dismissed suggestions that moral issues would crop up related to Dr Chua.
"Yes... there will be all kinds of views as usual, but over 900 delegates have given their trust and mandate to Soi Lek, so the strengths and advantages have been prioritised (in reaching their decision)
"Whether this reflects the sentiments of the Chinese community at large is something that has to be evaluated by us," he added.
Dr Chua staged a stunning victory when he was elected the ninth president of MCA on Sunday.
He defeated incumbent Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and former president Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting at fresh party polls Sunday after a protracted crisis that had dogged the party since its AGM on Oct 18, 2008.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, who was aligned to Ka Ting, defeated Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha in a close fight for the deputy presidency.
Many observers see the election results — which had candidates from all three factions winning various posts — as reflective of the desire of members to close ranks and rebuild the party.
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