KUALA LUMPUR: MCA has had a good start in its party revival since the leadership crisis was resolved in March, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Saying he had confidence in the new MCA leadership, he called on the party to remain committed and united ahead of the next general election.

“I have, and I can share a high degree of optimism in the new leadership because MCA has started working as one team to strengthen the party,” he said when opening the party’s 57th general assembly in Wisma MCA yesterday.

Najib also congratulated MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek for winning the party elections on March 28.

“I have confidence because I see in the new leadership a team emerging to strengthen the party.

“He (Dr Chua) has committed and dedicated himself to revive MCA and I commend him for that.”

Najib, also the Barisan Nasional chairman, said MCA should now strive to become a bigger champion for the Chinese community.

“You have to be their voice and conscience. I have no other wish than to have a strong MCA.

“I’ve always said that I believe, in the interest of the nation and Barisan, we need a strong and effective MCA.”

Umno and Barisan Nasional in general would also assist the MCA by allowing the party more space in highlighting the Chinese community’s needs and problems.

“Unless we enable MCA to give voice to the Chinese community, how can we hope for MCA to deliver in the next elections?” he said, adding that other parties also needed the support of the Chinese community.

“I know some of my friends like an Umno vice-president whose constituency has 40% non-Malay voters. Does he think he can win the seat without support from the Chinese and Indians?” he asked.

MCA, he added, must get its divisions and branches moving to gain the ground lost in the last general election.

“You need to do some ‘ass-kicking’, like they say in the US.”

-The Star-