KUALA LUMPUR: The time is ripe for the Barisan Nasional (BN) to review its leadership structure to better reflect the multiracial composition of the ruling coalition, outgoing MCA deputy president Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy said.

He said there was no hard and fast rule in the BN that the chairman and deputy chairman of the coalition of 13 parties must be held by the UMNO president and deputy president.

"The proposal on second deputy (BN) chief is an appropriate proposal... looking back at the history of BN, there is no hard and fast rule which states that UMNO leaders must take up a certain senior position in BN.

"I still remember when BN was formed in 1974, its secretary-general was from MCA... he was Tan Sri Michael Chen.

"There is no such thing that UMNO senior leaders are automatically appointed to fill the top BN posts," he told reporters after opening the MCA Youth general assembly at the party headquarters, here today.

Chan and MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting will not defend their posts at the party elections tomorrow as they had announced that they would not seek re-election.

The MCA deputy president was asked to comment on the call by outgoing Youth chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai, who is also Health Minister, that BN create a second deputy chairman post to accommodate MCA leaders.

"Indeed Liow's proposal is timely and not baseless... look at the history. BN leaders should take this seriously, especially at a time when we are speaking about power sharing and reforms in BN," Chan said.

On the ban imposed by the Home Ministry on the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), he said although the country allowed the formation of societies and associations, it did not mean that those forming these organisations could act according to their whims and fancies.

"There are rules and regulations to follow and respect. So, when a society is formed, its members cannot contravene laws or take the law into their own hands.

They must obey the rules of the country.

"I think the government should pay special attention to the Indian community and try to find ways and means to help the community," Chan added. (Bernama)