Lee said he had a meeting with Leong and urged him to remain in the MCA and voice his grievances through the party.

“Leong was unhappy over the tabling of hudud law in Parliament and urged the party to tackle the issue.

“He then took two weeks’ leave,” he told reporters after attending the 88th anniversary of SJKC Yik Min here today.

Leong is the State Environment, Public Affairs, Chinese, Indian and Siamese, Health and Solidarity Committee chairman.

He told a press conference he would quit the MCA to protest the tabling of the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) (Amendment 2010) Bill yesterday.

Lee said Leong, who is also Gurun state assemblyman, did not quit as State Exco member and left it to MCA president Liow Tiong Lai to replace him (as Kedah MCA deputy chairman).

— BERNAMA