MCA must return to the Cabinet
by Foong Pek Yee, The Star
A RADIO channel has used an advertisement featuring a woman’s voice lamenting on how difficult it is to make a living or “wan sik lan” in Cantonese.
This is followed by a male voice who says “wan sik ng lan” – meaning it is not difficult to make a living – before inviting his listeners to an event in Kuala Lumpur, where they can buy food with one ringgit.
I was amused by the advertisement, and felt sad at the same time.
Many people are finding it increasingly hard to make ends meet nowadays.
On Sunday, an MCA central delegate told the party top leaders on stage that some members had lost confidence in the party because of rising living costs.
Describing it as an urgent issue, Yong Ka Fai from Federal Territory MCA urged the leaders to resolve it quickly.
According to him, some members and their families were “drifting” away from the party.
The Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) handout for those with monthly household income below RM4,000 may help a bit, but the rise in the cost of living is staggering.
Not to forget that those earning above RM4,000 a month, depending on family commitment, are also fast joining the poor people category.
While the Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia are supposed to sell goods at a lower price, there are not many such shops around and they do not sell all the necessities of daily living.
The are also not many Klinik 1Malaysia which charge RM1 for consultation and medicine.
While nobody owes another person a living, the Government actually owes the people in helping to ease the rising living costs.
And MCA, as the second largest component party in the ruling coalition, owes its members to be involved in this government effort.
In other words, MCA has to be in the Government in order to do so.
Politics is harsh reality and political power when executed properly makes a big difference to the lives of those in need.
The party has no choice but to return to the Cabinet, and do so quickly.
The appointments should be seen as a heavy responsibility to make life better for the people, and win back the people’s respect and support for the party.
The party, fresh from its elections, has capable leaders to take up the new challenge. They need to be given a chance to prove their worth.
On Sunday, a day after the elections, party president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and his new team savour “tong yuen” (sweet glutinous rice balls) to celebrate the Winter Solstice Festival at the party headquarters before attending the party’s annual general meeting (AGM).
It was their first day of work, and with all the good tidings of the festival.
The Chinese believe the Winter Solstice marks a new beginning, and a person is a year older after eating the “tong yuen”.
The next party gathering is set to be in February when the party will celebrate its 65th anniversary.
Perhaps it can have an extraordinary general meeting at the same time to decide on whether to allow its leaders to take up the posts of ministers and deputy ministers.
