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It makes no difference if MCA is in or out of cabinet

LETTER | I feel a little funny. Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak wants MCA to win more seats to justify its number of posts in cabinet. Former president Chua Soi Lek, on the other hand, prefers MCA to stay out of cabinet since the party has performed poorly during the last general election.

To me, MCA has worked itself into a position that it cannot win. The party has been and will be a scapegoat, a victim of circumstances, a stooge, a subservient appeaser, and even a beggar.

Successive MCA leaders have remained hapless, unable and unwilling to speak up honestly and forcefully defending the party’s position. As a consequence, the rights of Chinese Malaysians, the party purportedly represents, have also been compromised or eroded.

At the same time, how dare some Umno leaders blame MCA for being hapless and unable to perform? How dare Umno continue to blame MCA for depending on Malay votes to survive?

Are Umno and MCA leaders so blind to see it was precisely due to the policies and governance of Umno that have caused the gradual demise of MCA?

MCA is expected to face a dominant Umno, no doubt about that. But both Umno and MCA must ensure that that dominance is tempered with fair play, moderation and genuine sense of power sharing.

Did MCA speak up forcefully and cogently on issues fundamental to Chinese Malaysians? Did Umno listen and give due considerations to the grouses raised?

Did Umno give in to an issue based on what the party is willing to give or based on what is demanded by MCA?

To me, MCA is always pleading and begging, but I don’t see Umno giving in to anything fundamental, other than on trivial matters or on ad hoc or piecemeal basis.

How then could Umno expect MCA to perform and to enjoy continual support of those the party claims to represent?

If MCA can’t speak of policies and governance, how is the party supposed to operate?

So here is my comment on Chua’s recent statement - it does not matter if MCA is in the cabinet or out of cabinet.

The fundamental issue is whether MCA is willing and brave enough to speak up. Also, it is fundamental whether Umno is willing to listen and compromise, based not on what the party comfortable to give but based on genuine sense of fairness and inclusiveness.

Very often we hear Umno complaining the party is sacrificing to carry the burden of MCA’s lack of support. Well, I have another idea - it is MCA carrying the burden for Umno for far too long so much so that the party is losing its relevance today.

There will be positions and perks to be enjoyed by MCA. But it can’t go on forever if the party has been ineffective. Sooner or later, people at large will realise that it does not matter if MCA is in the cabinet or out of it.


The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.

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