MCA explains move on SDs

PETALING JAYA: MCA had called for Barisan Nasional MPs to immediately retract any signed statutory declaration (SD) of support for any sides following the decision by the coalition's supreme council in a meeting post-GE15, says MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon (pic).

It was party president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong who suggested this during that same meeting, said Dr Mah in his statement titled “Explanations regarding the claim that MCA supported Perikatan Nasional-PAS”.

In the Barisan meeting, it was decided that the coalition would stay neutral and be part of the Opposition, Dr Mah said.

“Following this meeting, Barisan officially instructed its MPs to immediately retract any SDs signed,” he said in the statement which was uploaded on the MCA Facebook page on Wednesday (Nov 30).

He also explained that following GE15 results on Nov 20, several senior Barisan leaders informed MCA that the coalition should stick with Perikatan to form the Federal Government.

This was based on the Barisan’s stance prior to GE15, which was "No DAP and No Anwar".

Dr Mah added at that time, there were also many news reports stating Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) supported Perikatan after being informed that Barisan would back Perikatan.

Mah’s statement was released on the same day PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang had claimed that Barisan component parties MCA and MIC and Sabah parties were willing to back Perikatan, as the Federal Government and had even signed SDs supporting it.

Previously, Perikatan chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had claimed Perikatan had the support of 115 MPs, including 10 from Barisan and 22 from GPS.

The Barisan MPs have since retracted their SDs, with GPS also announcing that it would join the unity government.

Pakatan Harapan chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has since been sworn in as Malaysia’s 10th Prime Minister on Nov 24.