MCA leaders are standing firm being party chief Dr Chua Soi Lek's warning that the Chinese community will lose its representation in government should the party do badly in the coming general election.

Since last night, the party headquarters has dispatched at least five statements from various leaders backing Chua's statement that MCA would "deliberate" on its position in government should it perform as badly as it did in the 2008 general election.

chua soi lek supp ceramah 120411 Chua's statement is seen by the opposition as a warning to the Chinese community that they will lose their representation in government, in view of a near wipe-out of ethnic Chinese candidates from the Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) in last Saturday's state polls.

In agreeing with Chua, MCA publicity chief Heng Seai Kie said the party would be deemed irrelevant if it could not win at state and federal levels and would not be able to represent the Chinese community.

"If the Chinese community flatly refuses to allow MCA to represent them, MCA therefore will have no choice but to review its position in the national political stream," she said in a statement today.

Ironically, Heng did not contest in the 2008 general election, but was later appointed senator and then deputy women, family and community development minister. NONE

'Precedent set in 1969'

MCA vice-president Donald Lim ( right ) said there had been a precedent in 1969, when MCA had opted not to join Tunku Abdul Rahman's cabinet after a disastrous showing in the general election that year.

"If MCA fails to obtain recognition from the majority of Chinese Malaysians, this will affect MCA's position as the frontrunner within BN in negotiating to secure and defend Chinese interests," Lim said.

Expanding on the aftermath of the 1969 election, MCA secretary-general Kong Cho Ha said during the formation of the BN in 1973, MCA under the stewardship of Lee San Choon had supported the new coalition "conditionally".

Kong ( below, left ) said MCA had then decided to join BN on condition that the partywould continue to represent the aspirations of the Chinese community in the same manner that Umno represented the Malays.

"MCA has never wavered from this principle. In other words, if MCA loses the support of the majority of Chinese Malaysians, MCA will lose our foothold in the mainstream of Malaysian politics.

"If this occurs, MCA must conduct a comprehensive review of the role and position of our party, in both federal and state governments," Kong said.

'We'll never turn our backs on you'

MCA Wanita secretary-general Chew Lee Giok stressed that the party had always fought for the interests of the Chinese community in all fields.

"I hope that in the coming general election, the Chinese community will continue to support and encourage us in our efforts.

"In return, we vow not to ever turn back or back down in our mission in ensuring that the rights and interests of the Chinese will never erode or be taken away," Chew said.

bagan pinang kong chor har 051009.jpg Ironically, both Heng and Lim were appointed deputy ministers in the current Najib administration although they did not win seats in the last general election.

Heng did not contest, Lim lost his Petaling Jaya Selatan parliamentary seat, while Chew was appointed as a senator.

SUPP's ethnic Chinese candidates lost in 13 out of 15 seats contested in the April 16 Sarawak election, prompting Chua to urge the party not to nominate its Chinese leaders for state cabinet posts because they had apparently lost their mandate from the community.

However, DAP leaders have retorted that Chua, who campaigned for SUPP, was fanning racial sentiments and hypocrisy, pointing out that Chua had succeeded in lobbying for his son to be made a federal deputy minister.