We note with interest the seemingly careless categorisation of MCA Vice-president Liow Tiong Lai and his faction by the press as being ‘renegades’ within the MCA party.

We find this quite strange given the fact that a ‘renegade’ is usually defined as someone who is a traitor or has deserted a party or cause for another.

Liow and the respective heads of the Wanita and Youth wings of the MCA, namely Chew Mei Fun and Dr Wee Ka Siong, have never betrayed the MCA or nor have they deserted the party or its cause.

In this connection, we do not recall them having, at any time, detracting or distancing themselves from the avowed objectives and principles of the party.

They have, however, taken positions that are different from that of the president of the party and we believe that this is something quite normal within any political party that practices the principles of democracy.

The essence of their position is that the wishes of the members, as expressed during the party’s EGM in October of last year, must be respected. They have also called for fresh elections.

This is quite typical in any political party that is facing internal leadership strife. Inevitably, there will be leaders who feel that when in doubt, always go back to the heart of the party which is the voice of the ordinary members.

Dissenting voices are not always ‘rebels’ or ‘renegades’. They are quite often the voice of conscience of a particular party and as such, their views must have an important place in the party’s agenda.

Differing viewpoints are the spirit of any democracy. To brush them aside or label them as renegades leaves open a window to authoritarianism. We must therefore be careful when we attach labels to persons or groups that do not actually reflect their position or message.