In response to (MCA secretary-general) Ong Ka Chuan’s statement on April 8, I would like to express my mixed feelings towards his public apology. On one hand, I feel flattered that the party’s secretary-general decided to apologise to me (and only me) openly. However, on the other hand, I feel that it was not right as an apology is not what I want. I don’t think he has fully understood the situation nor received the right message.

I am merely conveying a message to Ka Chuan and (younger brother and MCA chief) Ong Ka Ting that they should take responsibility for MCA’s shameful defeat in the recently concluded general elections. It is a call from grassroots members and the public who feel that the biggest Chinese-based political party in Malaysia needs real leadership. I sincerely urge him and Ka Ting to feel the pulse of the community and not hide behind the ‘unity and continuity’ curtain.

Certain quarters have since criticised me and my colleagues for washing dirty linen in public and we should have voiced our views through proper channel. The point is, we tried.

The secretary-general should not apologise to me but to all MCA members. He should feel sorry for making the wrong calls and the way he lead the Perak MCA that eventually caused the party’s poor peformance and the collapse of the Barisan Nasional government in the state.

More importantly, he should apologise for inculcating a culture of ‘yes-men’ in the party and for sidelining vocal and down-to-earth members and instead promoted his inexperienced close associates, who he claimed are more committed than others in the party. He should also feel sorry for allowing bureaucracy and gate-keeping culture to exist in MCA in this 21st century. He should apologise to every MCA member for his management of the party which has become archaic, out-of-touch and lacks direction.

To back this point, Ka Chuan was the party’s organising secretary for 15 years and secretary-general since 2005.

The end result is clear, the rakyat has spoken.

To be fair, I support the effort to encourage greater participation by younger group in politics and in MCA’s affairs. However, it served the party little purpose by rocketing inexperienced professionals to key positions when their commitment and sincerity to serve the public has not been tested.

I must now clarify that I hold no grudge against anyone for my not being selected to contest in the elections. I beg the honourable minister to begin seeing the real issue in question and accept that his divide-and-rule, double-standard, and high-handed ways of running Perak MCA over the years have cost the party's defeat. It’s time to change, time to move on for the better.

Also, since March 8, Ka Ting had on several occasions challenged anyone who thinks they can do better than him to contest or come forward for he would be happy to give way. A general who has led his army into an embarrassing defeat should take responsibility for his unwise strategies instead of creating tension within the camp. MCA is now in shambles and morale is low. If he is sincere, Ka Ting would have done the most honourable thing – be accountable for his faults allow a new MCA to emerge.

I do not know if he will be challenged in the coming party polls but the president sending out an ultimatum to his critics gives an impression that MCA lacks capable replacements and hinders effort for the party to start afresh.

My colleagues and I spoke the truth, the people’s wishes. In return, we get the lashings and accused of being sore-losers. The rakyat saw what is becoming of MCA, and they are not happy.

We love this party, we believe in the cause of MCA, we support the struggle. For that same reason, we want to exercise our democratic right to express our views and call for more dynamic, pragmatic and stronger leadership in the party. Save Malaysian Chinese Association! Save MCA from further deterioration.

The writer is deputy chairman MCA Ipoh Timur and former member of parliament Ipoh Timur.