By Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 – An all-out war appears to have broken out between Barisan Nasional allies MCA and Umno, with Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek accusing “some BN leaders” of failing to recognise past failures and claiming that they would eventually cause the MCA’s demise.

The MCA president said that the party was not afraid to side with its opposition foe DAP in issues that benefited the community and would not run away from making its stand known.

Dr Chua also indirectly named Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein as one of the BN leaders he was referring to, claiming that this was shown in the Umno vice-president’s blunt reminder to the MCA yesterday to stick with BN’s struggles.

“Hishammuddin’s statement yesterday that the MCA should not forget the struggle of the BN when fighting for Chinese demands shows that some BN leaders have yet to learn from the 2008 general election and do not understand the urge of the people to reform,” he said in a statement here today.

It was reported today that the Umno vice-president had “reminded MCA to stick with the struggles” of BN when championing the rights of the Chinese community.

Dr Chua said that based on the results of Elections 2008, the new MCA leadership understood the need for it to change to regain the people’s trust and support.

“If some BN leaders continue to live in their own world, they will certainly push MCA to its doom and will not bring the ruling coalition any good,” he claimed.

Dr Chua said that while the party respected Hishammuddin’s views, the latter should not blame MCA for deviating from the objectives and struggles of the BN.

“He cannot blame us for deviating from the objectives and struggles of the BN simply because MCA has a different voice from him or other component party leaders,” he said.

Dr Chua defended the new, stronger stance of the present MCA leadership under his presidency, claiming that the party’s political struggle was “totally reasonable and legal”.

“MCA will push hard for the implementation of the 13 resolutions passed during the Chinese Economic Congress held on Saturday because the resolutions are not only related to the Chinese community but also the future of the country’s economic development.

“MCA reckons that it has the responsibility to reflect the wishes of the Chinese community due to globalisation. Otherwise, not only MCA will lose the community’s support, it will not be able to also justify its political existence,” he said.

On Saturday, the MCA’s Chinese Economic Congress called for economic liberalisation and that a merit-based and needs-based system would contribute to the path for Malaysia to be globally competitive.

Dr Chua’s strong words of rebuke against Hishammuddin today continues to fan the fires already brewing between the Umno and MCA.

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