TAWAU, 15 Sept 2008: The MCA is still relevant not just for the interests of the Chinese community, but also for the interests of the country and all Malaysians, says Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai.
But Liow, who is also MCA Youth chief, admitted that the party needed some changes within and serious efforts were being made by the party leadership towards this end.
"It is not only the MCA that needs to change but all the other Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties," he told reporters after a visit to Tawau Hospital here today.
Liow was commenting on former MCA vice-president Datuk Chua Jui Meng’s statement on 14 Sept that the party could not wait for another three years to bring about change in the party.
Chua had earlier announced that he would be contesting the party president post while Liow would vie for the vice-president post in the party elections in October.
Liow said in all this time, the MCA had always listened to the voices of the grassroots and conveyed their views to the government for consideration and action.
He said through the struggles of the MCA and other BN component parties like Umno, MIC, Gerakan and those in Sabah and Sarawak, racial unity had prevailed which brought about harmony and stability in the country.
“So, in this context, MCA and BN are both relevant," he added.
On the recent arrest of three individuals under the Internal Security Act (ISA), Liow said the Act should only be used if the individuals’ actions were really a threat to national security.
He said in tackling issues, there were other preventive laws that could be used to ensure public order and security.
He therefore suggested that the ISA be reviewed. – Bernama
