The 59th MCA general assembly 2012 - was it the final nail in its coffin?

MCA's 59th annual general assembly began with high spirits and hopes. Adopting the motto 'MCA can deliver' and 'Battle without fear', the delegates tried their best to put up a brave front and display great confidence of victory in the coming 13th general election, which could prove most crucial and decisive.

But to many Malaysians who following the political developments in the country, it was nothing but a great sandiwara ( act ) to try and regain MCA's rapidly losing support from the Chinese.

There were three excesses that we witnessed at the just concluded MCA general assembly.

It goes to show how desperate and jittery the party is, what with the approaching general election which many believe could hit the 63-year-old second largest component in the BN so hard, its demise could possibly result. These were:

1. Excessive praise for Najib Abdul Razak to the extent of idolising him as though he is the de facto MCA president and savior of the party in the coming general election.

2. Excessive attacks on Pakatan Rakyat for its alleged "failures" in the states under its rule which showed the deep-seated fear for the opposition.

People on the ground, including MCA members themselves, especially in Penang and to a certain extent Selangor, know the ability of the Pakatan governments in administering the states under their care.

3. Excessive anti-hudud and anti-Islamic state rhetoric to create fear among the Chinese in particular and the non-Muslims in general.

The MCA president went to the extent of saying that under the hudud laws imposed in the Islamic state set up by Pakatan, the Muslims will be permitted to rape non-Muslim women.

The attack on, mursyidul am Nik Aziz Nik Mat, a righteous and highly respected man, for allegedly instigating rape of non-Muslim women is not only a blatant lie but illustrates arrogance and rudeness at the highest level.

It shows nothing but a total disrespect for a simple, honest and righteous elderly man who is revered by many - Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

Will the MCA fair better after the general assembly? Has it succeeded in winning back the Chinese support with its fear tactics of an Islamic state and hudud laws?

What will be the effects be on Malay voters who make up the majority in nearly all the ‘safe' constituencies contested by MCA representatives? Will their attacks on hudud and Islam go down well with them?

To my mind the MCA came out worse than they were before.

Not only have the Chinese lost the little faith they had in it to represent them in the government, but it has also lost the very vital Malay support needed to remain in power within the BN.

Umno, being insecure itself, may refuse to allow them their ‘safe' seats to contest for fear of losing the seats.

These desperate tactics together with change of the colour of their attire at the assembly from its traditional white to blue made this general assembly a mockery of MCA as the legitimate representative of the Chinese community.

Nothing was said about how MCA is going to address the many urgent problems facing the Chinese, non-Muslims and the nation in general.

Nothing was discussed about the rampant corruption that is driving the country to the verge of bankruptcy, the increasing racial and religious animosity that is threatening the peace and harmony we have toiled to build together, and the open disregard for the law and the blatant abuse of power by those entrusted with it.

In fact the MCA general assembly may have struck the final nail in its coffin as to most Malaysians, the MCA has become irrelevant, as has Gerakan, MIC and to some extent Umno.

Still, the demise of these race based parties may be a blessing in disguise as we need multi-racial parties to move forwards to survive in a globalised and highly competitive world.