KUALA LUMPUR: The Barisan Nasional supreme council meeting next Tuesday is expected to discuss the suspension of two MCA assemblymen for abstaining from voting on a DAP motion at the Penang state assembly on Nov 21.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the meeting would also discuss problems faced by component parties.
“The matter may be raised at the meeting,” he told reporters after attending the Peoples Progressive Party’s New Year open house at Putra World Trade Centre here yesterday.
On Dec 16, Jawi assemblyman Tan Cheng Liang and her Datuk Keramat counterpart Lim Boo Chang were suspended indefinitely by the MCA for abstaining from voting on a DAP motion to defer the controversial RM1.02bil Penang Outer Ring Road Project.
Dr Mahathir, after chairing an Umno supreme council meeting on Dec 19, said the case of the two assemblymen would be taken to the Barisan.
On another matter, the Prime Minister said he hoped to carry out his work “as usual” in the remaining 10 months before he hands over the reins to his deputy Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
“There is nothing spectacular, but I want to see Malaysia peaceful and prosperous. I want Barisan to strengthen its unity and have discipline which can contribute towards the success of the coalition,” he said when asked about his resolutions for the New Year.
On a statement by PAS acting president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang that there would be a power struggle in Umno when Dr Mahathir retires on Oct 1, he said:
“He (Hadi) can make forecasts, and that is his hope. It is all wishful thinking. There is no problem that I know of during this transition period.
“There is no problem at the grassroots and, in Barisan, there has been good acceptance of the decision.”
On whether Hadi’s statement was due to uncertainties over the new deputy prime minister, he said it would be resolved in an amicable manner, similar to that done by him and his predecessor Tun Hussein Onn.
“We can manage this,” he said.
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