Rumour of Chua defection spread by certain groups, says Najib

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the rumour that MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek might be joining the opposition is being played up by certain groups.
Najib, who is also the Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, said that when he met the former health minister two days ago, he had not heard anything on the matter from Dr Chua.

"Who is saying this? I met him (Dr Chua) two days ago. There was no mention about the matter...it is being spread by certain quarters," he said.

Commenting on the report which said that Dr Chua did not rule out the possibility of defecting and joining the opposition as he claimed that he was being increasingly marginalised in the party, Najib said he believed Dr Chua is loyal to the BN.

"He (Dr Chua) has no intention (to join the opposition). Only some people are talking about it, but I believe Dr Chua is a loyal supporter of the BN," he told reporters after delivering a special message at the Workers' Day Gathering 2009 at the Putra Stadium, Bukit Jalil, here today.
Dr Chua was reported to have said that he had received an offer from the opposition coalition since January 2008.

Najib was also asked about the possibility of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim trying to influence the results of the Pas election at its assembly next month.

"(I) don't know...he (Anwar) may have certain people (in Pas) whom he wants to support...possibly," said Najib.

A local daily had quoted the chairman of the Muslim Solidarity Organisation, Datuk Zulkifli Mohamad, as saying that Anwar was attempting to influence and ensure victory for certain PAS leaders who were supporting the PKR advisor's ideology.

Meanwhile in KLUANG, Johor, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein hoped that the MCA leadership could handle the problem regarding Dr Chua.

Hishammuddin, who is also the Home Minister, said that as someone who knows the former health minister for a long time, he would be sad if Dr Chua, who was also a former member of Parliament for Labis, truly intended to defect to the opposition.

Asked on the claim that Dr Chua's son, Chua Tee Yong, who is the current member of Parliament for Labis, had also been persuaded to defect, Hishammuddin said this was not wise because such defection would disappoint his voters.

In MALACCA, another Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal hoped that Dr Chua would not cross over to the opposition.

He said that what was important now was that all leaders of the BN component parties worked hard to strengthen the coalition to face the next general election.

Source : The New Straits Times