MCA and MIC have joined in the chorus by calling for Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to step down following the coalition’s poor performance in the general election.

MCA secretary-general Chong Sin Woon said his party had lost confidence in Zahid and urged him to give way to someone new to lead the coalition.

He also said BN should call for an urgent meeting to discuss its next course of action.

“MCA is shocked and disappointed with Zahid’s decision to postpone the BN council meeting which was scheduled to be held tonight.

“At a time when the nation’s political situation is unstable and unclear right after the general election, there is an urgent need to hold such a meeting to discuss and make a decision collectively,” he said in a statement.

He added that MCA was firm in its stand that no one can represent BN in holding talks with any parties to be part of the government without first getting the mandate from the coalition’s partners.

Former MIC vice-president C. Sivarraajh also urged Zahid to “take a rest to let others to lead”.

“Do the right thing sir. You are a friend to me but I think you should let others lead. It’s a clear message from Malaysians. Plz take rest sir,” he tweeted.

MIC Wanita chief Mohana Muniandy said Zahid must step down as BN chief and Umno president to take responsibility for the coalition’s defeat in the general election.

“Consider this as a lesson for all of us. His resignation will also give way to other capable leaders to bring in changes,” she said in a statement.

In the national polls yesterday, both Chong and Mohana lost in their seats while Sivarraajh will stand in the Padang Serai polls on December 7.

Earlier, Umno vice Youth chief Shahril Hamdan and Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi urged Zahid to quit from his positions of leadership.

Shahril, who resigned as the party’s information chief today, said Zahid should own up to BN’s abysmal performance in the election and step down gracefully.  

“Without diminishing respect for him as an individual, I am of the view that the Umno president and BN chairman (Zahid) needs to set an example by leading the process of taking responsibility for this defeat and withdrawing honourably,” Shahril said in a statement today.  

Onn Hafiz said it was clear the Malays had rejected Umno.  

“Umno has fallen. Umno and Barisan Nasional won only nine parliamentary seats in Johor while we did not win a single parliamentary seat in Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Malacca, Kelantan, and Terengganu.   

“It’s a bitter pill to swallow; Umno leaders, including myself, have to listen to the people who spoke through their votes yesterday,” he said on Facebook. 

Zahid was to have chaired an Umno meeting this afternoon but that, too, was postponed. – November 20, 2022.