KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today UMNO had never bullied its partners in the Barisan Nasional (BN) and blamed opposition parties for coming up with such an accusation to deny the people's support for the ruling coalition.

"People say UMNO likes to bully. There is no such thing as bullying. If that is the case, the other component parties would have left the BN a long time ago. It is a strategy of the opposition parties. The issue did not originate from the (BN) component parties.

"It started from the opposition parties, such as the DAP to tarnish the MCA's image so that the people, especially the Chinese, dislike the MCA and the BN leaders.

"Also, such as the group which calls itself Hindraf (Hindu Rights Action Force), to belittle (MIC president Datuk Seri S.) Samy (Vellu) ... to hate the leaders. Do you think Samy, (MCA president Datuk Seri) Ong (Ka Ting), (Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr) Koh (Tsu Koon) want to be bullied? This point was brought up by the opposition to make the people dislike the BN," said Abdullah in his speech when opening the 55th MCA Annual General Assembly at the party headquarters at Wisma MCA, here.

He said the BN component parties can be deemed as close friends and nothing can undermine their friendship, no matter what happens. (Bernama)