Liow: Peace and harmony crucial for Malaysia to face challenges ahead

All for peace: (From left) MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong, Liow and MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan addressing the press conference in Kuala Lumpur.

KUALA LUMPUR: Extremists and fanatics must be contained both in the country and abroad, MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said.

The MCA, in pledging full support for Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s recent speech against religious intolerance and extremism, felt it was crucial that peace and harmony persisted in Malaysia to enable the country to face any challenges ahead.

Liow, after MCA’s central committee meeting yesterday, said the party was firmly behind the Prime Minister in his fight for a moderate approach against violent extremism.

“We fully support the Prime Minister’s speech at the United Nations to condemn all fanatic and extremist movements. We condemn the irrational acts of killing innocent people,” he said.

Najib, in addressing the 69th United Nations General Assembly in New York last week, had offered Malaysia’s moderate approach to address the violent extremism and religious intolerance facing the Muslim world.

On another matter, he said MCA was inviting external investment experts to be part of its new committee to manage and monitor party assets.

He said the new committee would comprise its members as well as external experts.

“The term of reference is to register and monitor all party assets and investments.

“(It is) Also to sanction proposals from the central committee to acquire or dispose any party asset or investment above RM5mil.

“Thirdly, it is to recommend to the central committee new investment plans and proposals to dispose any of the party assets or investment,” he said at a press conference at the party headquarters here.

The external experts, who he said would outnumber the MCA representatives in the committee, would advise on managing its asset for the party to be more efficient and to make the right decisions.

Liow said the committee would also take away the burden of making business decisions from the central committee so that it can focus on community and political matters.

He also said that the party’s AGM on Oct 12 will be opened by the Prime Minister and attended by 2,375 delegates.