ALL is well between Umno and MCA, said Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, after ticking off the Chinese party earlier this week for skipping a Barisan Nasional event.

“There is no issue (with our relationship). The one splitting us is the media,” the deputy prime minister told a press conference after an event in Kepala Batas, Penang, today.

“Things are always good between Umno and MCA.”

At an event in Negri Sembilan on Tuesday, Zahid, who is also BN deputy chairman, rebuked MCA leaders for not showing up at the grassroots event, saying they ought to “show respect”.

“Please show your face even if we ask you to contest elsewhere. Help our candidates. You want seats, but don’t attend programmes.

“You must show respect for the seats to be contested. Don’t give the excuse that you’re busy. I want an excellent record,” Zahid was quoted as saying by Harian Metro.

In a China Press report yesterday, MCA president Liow Tiong Lai said the party’s non-appearance at the BN event was due to a “communication error”.

He said he has instructed Negri Sembilan MCA to submit a report on the matter.

Liow said it was not appropriate for Zahid to accuse MCA before finding out the reason for the party’s absence at the event.

Yesterday, MCA Youth legal bureau chief Ng Kian Nam said Zahid should have checked the facts before reprimanding the party.

He said the party had neither been invited to nor notified of the event in Rembau.

“The MCA state secretariat did not receive an invitation. We were not absent on purpose.”

Today, however, Zahid said Liow and MCA deputy president Dr Wee Ka Siong accepted his remarks positively, and had taken measures to address the matter.

He said he met both leaders yesterday after a cabinet meeting.

“Of course Liow was not happy with what I said. But something would be wrong if he had taken no action. He accepted it and told state leaders to be more proactive.

“So today (at this event), I see many MCA leaders from the state and its divisions present. Well done.”

He said in the past, MCA members’ attendance at BN events was not encouraging.

“But after my remarks, I now see an improvement. If commitment is shown, there is no need to say more.

“Today (in Penang), I see the commitment.” – March 15, 2018.