Najib: MCA needs to consider BN's interest

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak wants the MCA leaders to take into account the interests of the Barisan Nasional (BN) in resolving the crisis faced by the component party currently. Najib, who is also the BN chairman, said he did not want to pressure anyone in the MCA by giving a deadline for the annual general meeting (AGM), but hoped it could be held soon. "Some groups want it to be held quickly, while others want it to be held later. We try to reach a compromise so that the transition can be resolved and we can move forward with a stronger line-up. "It's only a question of time, when to hold the AGM. The time is being negotiated by several MCA leaders, I hope a compromise on the date for the AGM could be reached soon," he told reporters here today. The Prime Minister was asked to comment on the internal crisis which had been plaguing the MCA for the past three months without any sign of an immediate solution although the leaders concerned had agreed to hold fresh party polls. Following the MCA Central Committee (CC) meeting at the end of November, the leaders embroiled in the dispute are now seen to be undergoing a 'cooling off' period although no agreement had been reached on the date for the AGM. Najib earlier gave away special aid to 363 flood victims from 10 evacuation centres in the Kuala Terengganu district at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Kompleks Gong Badak, here today. All the flood victims received an advanced payment of RM300 each to ease their burden while the balance of the aid payment would be determined by the National Security Council and the District Office, and would be paid out later.