Has the rejuvenation process in the MCA, particularly with the recruitment of more than 20,000 young professionals into its fold, change the perception of the Chinese community towards the party?

The answer to this is important to the MCA as it prepares for the general election with a less than satisfactory standing in opinion polls.

To younger leaders in the party, the party is working in the right direction but to outsiders, the MCA still has a lot of work to do.

A young party official, Ng Kian Nam, contacted by malaysiakini said the MCA's rejuvenation process is concentrated on the grassroots level, which is different from DAP's.

"DAP is only recruiting political freshmen to become candidates, but never made their grassroots look younger," Ng said.

MCA president Ong Ka Ting recently announced that the party has attracted more than 20,000 professionals including lawyers, accountants, corporate managers, doctors and engineers from all over the country.

BeliaWanis MCA chairperson Carol Chew Chee Lin also said thousands of young women have joined them since 2005. BeliaWanis MCA is a club created by Wanita MCA to recruit young women.

Grassroots problems

The 'U35' programme, introduced by the party in June last year, is also successful. Party secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan revealed that a total of 108 'U35' branches have been formed. Such branches only accept members aged between 18 to 35.

Some political analysts opined that the rejuvenation process was an opportunity for Ka Ting to promote his supporters to leading party positions. Besides, MCA was also under pressures as DAP had won several Chinese seats in the Sarawak election last year with young and new faces..

Ng however conceded that the party was also facing problems at the grassroots level with older members creating difficulties to newcomers, worrying that they would be replaced. But he also blamed the new members for being arrogant and disrespectful towards towards the seniors.

Ng also pointed out another serious problem, where many of the MCA Youth leaders are above 40 years old, saying that "they just can't reflect the thinking of the younger generation anymore."

But Chew said BeliaWanis has the full support from Wanita MCA and met no resistance from the seniors.

Both Ng and Chew denied suggestions that they were pressuring party leaders to field more younger candidates in the general election.

Ng said quality, not age, should be the basis for the selection of candidates. "I am against 'instant mee' culture," he added. Such a culture refers to new members getting all the attention, such as position and candidacy, from the party in an instant.

Chew said BeliaWanis would be looking at the overall representation of women and not only on the younger set.

No impact

To an outsider, Youth For Change convener Lee Khai Loon ( right ), new blood in the party would not create a new political culture.

He opined that new members have to be obligated to the old structure if they harbour promotion in the party. "Creative thinking and youth valiant will be obliterated," he said.

Lee also claimed that MCA has never been concerned about youth issues, as there has not been any policy or solution suggested.

"As an example, MCA has never suggested a time limit and how they want to repeal UUCA," he said, referring to the restrictive Universities and University Colleges Act.

Lee said that many young people could also be attracted by the social or cultural programmes of the MCA and not necessarily by its politics when they join the party.

But new MCA central committee member and Kota Melaka MP Wong Nai Chee ( left ) disagreed with Lee's view, saying that the new members must first be attracted to the ideologies espoused by the party before they would sign up.

"They joined the party voluntarily," Wong said, "Hence, they shouldn't face the problem of losing their own stand because of the party structure."

Wong said it is normal for differing views and opinions among party members, young and old, but such views were always taken into consideration in the party's decision making process.

"Hence, they shouldn't have to face this problem", he added.

Wong also dismissed claims that MCA Youth has not been concerned about youth issues.

"MCA Youth's stand on UUCA is under review," he said, "You cannot say we are not concerned just because our stand is different from yours."