Who’s coming to MCA’s rescue?
Is MCA resolved to reverse its destiny or will it continue to sink further? MCA today stands right at this crucial historical intersection.
Lim Mun Fah, Sin Chew Daily
Kong Cho Ha, who is running for MCA vice presidency, has said the peace solution is not peaceful at all.
Indeed so. Since the battle between the Liow-Wee team and Gan-Lim team goes into full steam, the so-called peaceful solution is already shattered.
Over the next few days, we will see that candidates and their campaigners will be busily running all across the nation to solicit support. These incumbent and future MCA leaders can now concentrate wholly on the party elections as they are not bogged down by any Cabinet post.
Although the status and momentum of MCA today are a shade paler than during its prime, it is nevertheless part and parcel of the ruling coalition and is very likely re-accepted into the federal cabinet after the party elections. As such, MCA elections remain a much watched event from within and without the party.
MCA has no one to blame for its predicament today. Indeed the party has put on a very poor showing in recent years. The humiliating defeat in GE13 has said it all.
If the party refuses to conduct a sincere introspection and keeps blaming Umno for being too overpowering or voters for failing it, then it will get obliterated completely come the next general elections.
Calls for reform have been on the manifestos of candidates, be it Liow Tiong Lai, Gan Ping Sieu or Ong Tee Keat. Indeed, MCA needs a reform more than anyone else, failing which the party is invariably headed to its doom.
It is much easier said than done. How is the party going to reform itself anyway? What to do reform and where is the roadmap for reform? MCA cannot afford to keep saying it is going to reform without coming out with some pragmatic steps and distinctive directions to mobilize its members towards a true collective reform.
Theoretically, the ultimate objective of any political party is to clinch the right to run the country’s administration through elections. MCA’s dilemma now is that while it is a big loser in the general elections, it is nevertheless a component of the ruling coalition albeit without Cabinet representation. While it claims it represents Chinese Malaysians, it has failed to earn the approval and support of Chinese voters. MCA’s status in the government is fast declining and its reputation and credibility in the Chinese community free falling.
Whatever the election outcome may be, the future leadership of MCA must be prepared to steer the party’s transformation and catalyze its rebirth. That said, it is by no means an easy task for a political party with so much historical burden and so entrenched factionalism and vested interests. Does any of Liow Tiong Lai, Gan Ping Sieu or Ong Tee Keat have what it takes to do that?
