As usual, the component parties of Barisan Nasional were hopeful that they would get a share of the various positions the prime minister has to offer whenever a new cabinet is about to be announced.

The PM would have called on leaders of the BN component parties to submit names and discuss the matter but the final say was with the PM.

With a slightly smaller cabinet now, some component parties - especially those that did not do so well in the March 8, 2008 elections - were right in fearing that they would not get what they want. The fear was only natural.

The MCA has managed to hold on to the number of its cabinet positions. Nevertheless, it is time they face reality.

The majority of the Chinese Malaysians have already rejected them and the Gerakan. They are now clinging on to the tail of Umno and other East Malaysian parties to have a say in the government.

On their own, these two parties are practically wiped out! There should be radical thinking among its more sensible leaders as to their future role.

If they want to remain with the Barisan Nasional, they must prove to themselves and the Chinese Malaysians that they are not the pet dogs of Umno. They have to show that their real concern is to see that the Chinese Malaysians are given fair opportunities in all areas.

The MCA and Gerakan must not continue to follow Umno's path to self-destruction by grabbing what goodies that come along their way for their party leaders at the expense of others. The days of a few rich Chinese acting as patrons of the rest of the Chinese community is not longer acceptable.

This is not the era of the 'Kapitan Cina' and we need Chinese politicians that will truly fight for the rights of the Chinese people, to stand shoulder to shoulder to build a strong and viable Malaysia for all races.

Thus, the role of racist parties must end. This call to Chinese-based parties is not only for them but also for the Malay-based and Indian-based, or other indigenous race-based parties, let it be in Barisan Nasional or otherwise.

It is time we have only multi-racial parties in Malaysia, where the rights of all races can be discussed within their political parties and projected as a manifesto for all races in Malaysia to choose in an election.

As individual party members of a multi-racial party, the various races can freely express their views behind closed doors and thrash out their needs without stirring up racial tensions in the media or blogs.

Once an acceptable policy is thrashed out and presented as a party stand, it can be announced and other non-party members can accept it or reject it during elections.

If Umno is too arrogant to reinvent itself radically, then MCA and Gerakan should take the lead and form a new multi-racial party, maybe accepting members from Umno and other BN component parties.

This breakup of the Barisan Nasional will be the best thing for Malaysia! The Alliance and Barsisan National have been in the political scene for too long and the latter has outlived its usefulness.

Short of making these parties extinct, there will be no way they can change. You can change the leadership (as has been done so many times amongst the component parties of BN) yet the image and identity and what they stand for will remain.

It takes a bold leader to forge a new path and I plead to the new leaders of MCA to take this bold move. After all, what have you to lose? Your ranks in the cabinet will be trimmed if not now, later. Show us that there is something left in you.