MCA president Liow Tiong Lai told the Johor MCA annual general meeting yesterday that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had agreed to “return” the seat of Gelang Patah to MCA, and that MCA is ready to unseat Lim Kit Siang.
I wonder how long can Najib survive as prime minister so I suppose only Liow would take Najib’s words seriously.
It is a pity that MCA has to beg for seats and is not seen as an equal partner.
Most voters see MCA as a junior partner or even lackey to Umno, and an accomplice in Umno’s misdeeds. Indeed, the victories of Barisan in 1995, 1999 and 2004 were less about MCA’s own strength but can be attributed to non-Malay support for prime ministers Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi respectively, for whatever reasons.
The question is not whether the Barisan Nasional candidate for Gelang Patah comes from Umno and MCA, as most voters won’t make the distinction anyway.
The question for Malaysians to ponder is whether MCA, with its seven seats in Parliament, can rise to the occasion to speak up for all Malaysians in time of crisis and to redeem itself so that it is seen to be on the right side of history.
MCA has the following channels to speak up on matters of importance to the nation via the Parliament, the cabinet, the Barisan Nasional council and in the media.
The nation is concerned with the RM 2.6 billion donation to Najib, the 1MDB crisis, the free fall of the ringgit, the adverse impact of the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the use of the racial card via ‘red shirts’ etc. Where is Liow Tiong Lai and the MCA?
What’s the point of electing MCA members of parliament when they are just there to endorse Umno and Najib’s misdeeds and to be the human shield for Najib so that he can stay in power forever?
If there is anything Liow can learn from Lim Kit Siang is his righteousness and his readiness to speak up for all Malaysians even when the voters do not vote for the DAP.
What is the use of voting for MCA anyway?
LIEW CHIN TONG is Johor DAP chairperson and MP for Kluang.
