Zahid, who is the BN chairman, said Umno would never abandon its allies (MCA, MIC and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah) during this difficult period and would always back efforts to strengthen themselves.

“We are in this together. God willing, Umno will never desert MCA, MIC, PBRS or even Friends of BN. This is how we operate,” he said. “So don’t, during such trying times, threaten to leave,” he said when opening the Selayang Umno divisional meeting here.

Zahid did not state which party had made such a threat. However, a MCA divisional chief had urged the party last month to leave BN and become an independent opposition party without joining Perikatan Nasional.

MCA president Wee Ka Siong has also stated that a decision on whether the party remains in BN would be made at MCA’s annual meeting.

After the Selayang Umno meeting today, Zahid said Umno had made way in the past for MCA to contest in Malay-majority seats, such as Tanjung Piai and Ayer Hitam (currently held by MCA’s Wee Jeck Seng and Ka Siong respectively).

“These are Malay-majority seats that we gave to MCA,” Zahid said when asked to comment on a call by former MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker that MCA should be allocated the right seats to prove its relevance.

He said MCA would perform well in Malay-majority areas, especially if it contests against DAP. Ti, who is the Kuantan MCA chief, also argued that Umno was dependent on DAP due to MCA’s lack of seats in Parliament.