KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 19, 2009) : Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, who had previously refused to interfere with MCA’s leadership crisis, said today he will meet the opposing leaders to find a solution to the party's deepening problems.

Najib, who is also Barisan Nasional chairman, said MCA’s internal problems have become more serious and severe now.

"I will meet to talk to them to see what solution we can find … and we will take it from there," Najib said after opening the 14th International Paralymic Committee general assembly at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre today.

He said he would meet the opposing groups either together or separately, preferably before the party's proposed extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on Nov 28.

He said the action of the party leadership, which removed the heads of the youth and women's wings and seven others from the presidential council on Wednesday, was not giving the people the confidence, and is hampering BN's efforts to rejuvenate itself.

"If we want to find a formula for unity, then the actions of the MCA leaders must reflect the desire," said Najib, adding that BN component parties must get their acts together as people are seeing Umno as going through a reformation process .

"It seems that what is happening in the MCA so far, no longer inspires confidence among those outside the party, including among BN component members," he said.

"We hope that other parties will come together and reflect the desire to put together a new image for the BN," he said.

He said the failure of MCA leaders to find a solution could result in the party being unable to win the trust and confidence of the Chinese community.

MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat removed from the presidential council leaders aligned to vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, including Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong and Wanita chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun.

Groups aligned to Liow have been pushing for fresh elections, claiming the decisions of delegates at the Oct 10 EGM were being ignored.

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