Can MCA save its dignity in Kajang after Sodomy II?
Chen Shaua Fui, Fz.com
The MCA has a lot to explain to the voters of Kajang following the second conviction of PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The perception of the general public is that the conviction for Sodomy II, as Anwar’s second sodomy case has been labelled, had unfolded at a whirl-wind pace because it was aimed at stopping Anwar from contesting in the Kajang by-election and subsequently becoming the Menteri Besar of Selangor.
As such, the people have been pointing their fingers at the Barisan Nasional (BN) and its leader, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is perceived to be reaping the benefits from the whole incident.
Netizens have voiced their dissatisfaction at the Appeals Court decision by posting emotional and critical comments on Najib’s Facebook page.
As a component party of BN, MCA has a monumental campaign ahead in winning back the support of the Chinese voters in Kajang.
Former MCA vice-president Datuk Yap Pian Hon said that with Anwar’s conviction, there was much uncertainty in the by-election now.
“The MCA needs to face this ruling, and re-strategise its campaign, because we don’t know who their candidate is now, whether it is a man or a woman.
“Because of that, this will be a tough campaign for MCA,” Yap told fz.com.
MCA Wanita national vice chairman Ong Chong Swen believed that Pakatan Rakyat will play up the people’s sentiments over Anwar’s conviction.
She said that the case had been in court for many years, it was bound to come to an end. To Pakatan Rakyat, any decision other than setting Anwar free will not be satisfactory, she said.
MCA will continue to talk to the residents and voters of Kajang, to explain the issue, she said.
“The voters must evaluate whether the case is related to the by-election or not,” she said.
Interestingly, MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and deputy president Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong have not made any comment so far on Anwar’s case on any social media platform such as Twitter and Facebook.
In the bigger perspective, MCA is in a quandary because a significant portion of the Chinese believed that the party would not be able to be critical of BN and push the ruling coalition to adopt fairer policies.
Certainly, MCA has not been able to defend the government’s policies such as the quota system implemented since 1970 in education and the civil service which were deemed to be unfair to the non-Malays.
This has prompted a majority of the Chinese to fully embrace the agenda for change offered by the Pakatan Rakyat in the 13th general election.
