Between an infant party and a tired one
Could the stance taken by Najib mean that he is indeed scouting for new partners since he has probably had enough of the quarrels and feuds in many of the parties in the ruling coalition?
Malaysian Mirror
On the day that the MCA’s set-to-be legendary 10-10-10 emergency general meeting was held, Najib Abdul Razak was atypically gracing an event of an infant political party made up of former vociferous critics of the ruling Barisan Nasional.
Over 2,700 MCA delegates were casting their votes to resolve their leadership crisis at the time the prime minister was opening the inaugural assembly of the Makkal Sakti party, formed in May by a group of novice politicians.
The party’s president is former Hindraf national co-coordinator R S Thanenthiran, who said his party is seeking to join the ruling coalition
Coincidentally, the MCA and Makkal Sakti assemblies were being held on the eve of the Bagan Pinang by-election Sunday, which was either going to give the much-needed tonic that Umno and the Barisan needed to continue surviving or the venom that could drag them further into the dark pits of political doom.
Showing he is ‘PM for all’
While Najib said later that he attended the Makkal Sakti function because he was the ‘PM for all’ and that he was willing to work with any party or NGO on his 1Malaysia aspirations, his friendly overture with the small and new political party has caused some raised eyebrows.
“I am surprised that Thanenthiran, who used say that the Barisan government was useless, is now saying that only Barisan can help the Indian community,” said MIC Youth chief T Mohan.
Teng Chang Yeow, secretary-general of Gerakan, a major multi-racial party in the Barisan, said Najib’s show of support for the new party reflected his lack of confidence in the Gerakan, the MIC and the PPP.
“It looks like our role and influence with the Indian community is so negligible that they (Barisan leadership) have to turn to another party to get that support,” The Star quoted him as saying Saturday.
K Uthayasoorian, president of the non-governmental organisation, the Tamil Foundation, said it was not a good idea for the prime minister to launch the Makkal Sakti party.
“The party’s founders are political novices, who came into the limelight after five Hindraf leaders were arrested under the Internal Security Act.
“Because of this, they may not have earned the credibility to helm a political party claiming to represent the community,” he said.
Finally showing his fangs
Coalition of Indian NGOs secretary Gunaraj George said, however, it is good to have another political party representing the Indians, given the community’s dire situation.
Could the stance taken by Najib mean that he is indeed scouting for new partners since he has probably had enough of the quarrels and feuds in many of the parties in the ruling coalition?
Could it just be that after more than six months at the helm he is finally showing his fangs and telling the coalition members to “buck up or I’ll bite your heads off!”
As it is, the just-concluded EGM of the Barisan’s second-largest component had not given much confidence about a united and rejuvenated MCA.
The EGM concluded with a dismal depiction
of a troubled party that is set to go through another round of harrowing election and with a lot more dirty linen to wash.
The majority of the delegates do not want Ong Tee Keat to lead them and neither do they want the disgraced suspended deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek to be reinstated to the post.
Bridges to cross and burnt bridges
So, where will this lead the MCA to ?
“We respect the decision made by the delegates collectively. It is only fair we bring it up for discussion at the central committee meeting as well as the presidential council meeting,” said Ong at a press conference after the EGM results were announced.
“From Day One we had wanted to resolve the party crisis through the EGM. So, this is it.
“We acknowledge the outcome and at the same time, the party will function as before. We will cross the bridge when we come to it,” he said.
The party will be lucky to be able to cross many more bridges instead of seeing more burnt ones along the way to recovery.
The party had taken the Chinese support so much for granted that it could not see the trees for the forest.
It had been so blurred about putting the “right people in the right place” that it overlooked its role as a representative of the Chinese community. Too late, the Chinese voters are already looking for their political champions elsewhere.
The MCA should not be surprised if, in the months ahead, it hears Najib encouraging the formation of a new party to take care of the Chinese interests in the Barisan.
