MCA draws up PKRAs,

community issues to be given

priority

By LEE YUK PENG

yukpeng@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: Issues raised by Chinese community leaders are now part of MCA’s party key result areas (PKRAs), said president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.

Also included in the PKRAs is input from Thursday’s meeting with representatives from the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism.

“The Government has national key result areas (NKRAs); we have PKRAs where the party will give priority to these issues and problems.

United stand: (From left) Cheng, Liow, Ong and Pheng posing for photographers during the dialogue at Wisma MCA in Kuala Lumpur

“The input, views and feedback will be compiled and listed in the PKRAs,” Ong said.

He made the announcement after a two-hour closed-door dialogue with Chinese community leaders at Wisma MCA yesterday.

Those present at the dialogue included party vice-presidents Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha and Wanita MCA chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun.

Others included Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Hua Zong) president Tan Sri Pheng Yin Huah, Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malay­sia president Tan Sri William Cheng and Malaysian Seven Major Clans Association secretary-general Chong Kuang Bak.

At the same press conference, Liow, who is also head of the MCA’s Chinese Guilds and Associations Consultative Bureau, said a joint secretariat would be set up to handle the issues, including following up on the matters either by raising it at Cabinet meetings or channelling them to government departments.

He said they supported the Government Transformation Pro­gramme (GTP) Roadmap launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Thursday.

The dialogue, Liow said, had also touched on ways to help the Chinese business community.

He also condemned the irresponsible act of throwing wild boar heads into mosque compounds, urging the police to nab the culprits as soon as possible.

Pheng said the issues raised during the dialogue covered various areas in education, economic, culture and others, adding that he was glad that Ong put them under PKRAs as it showed the MCA’s concern about the issues.

“The dialogue was significant but the time was too short. I wish we can have more such dialogues in the future,” he said.

Cheng said it was a good beginning to have such discussions and proposed that they be held regularly every three months.

“When we have more dialogues, we can cooperate in more fields,” he said, adding that the MCA and Chinese organisations were partners in the community.

I have lost words for this picture !! People can change very fast , one minute they will be whacking you , next minute no words from me ... just look at the picture ! Farthest left is William Cheng , next is you know who ......but its a good sign .