MCA and Gerakan must accept each other's role in the Barisan Nasional (BN) scheme of things if they are to avoid future conflicts, said Gerakan secretary-general Chia Kwang Chye.

He said MCA should be satisfied with its role in providing leadership at the national level and accept Gerakan's role in leading the Penang government.

"If we can all accept this, I think there will be (a better) chance that the relationship (between the two parties) will improve," he said in response to malaysiakini 's question-and-answer forum.

"If we continue to ask for more positions or if MCA continues to try and get back the chief minister's post in Penang, there will be no end to the conflict."

'Crown jewel'

Chia said the relationship between the two parties has further deteriorated because of the unpopular Penang Outer Ring Road (PORR) project , over which their state elected representatives have been at loggerheads.

In mid-December last year, two MCA state assembly persons in Penang were suspended temporarily by their party for abstaining from voting against an opposition motion at the state assembly to delay the project. They have since beein reinstated.

The BN supreme council also came down hard on the duo, which observers partly attributed to pressure exerted by Gerakan. This is because its leader and Penang Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Khoon is responsible for seeing through the RM1.02 billion project.

At the end of the day, said Chia, Penang remains the "crown jewel"in the toss-up between Gerakan and MCA.

"The main point of contention is Penang (since) it is the only state in Peninsular Malaysia where there is any chance of a non-Umno chief minister (being appointed)," he noted.

"Since Gerakan defeated MCA in 1969 and took over the chief minister's post, the relationship has not been smooth."

Making amends

While conceding that the relationship between the parties have been far from cordial, Chia also pointed out areas where the two duo have co-operated in the past.

He said Gerakan is particularly grateful to Pahang MCA leaders for helping the party win the Ketari by-election last year.

Thanks to strong campaigning by then MCA deputy president Lim Ah Lek, Gerakan trounced DAP with almost a 10-fold increase in majority to retain the state seat.

Answering another question on possible areas of co-operation, Chia said there is always room for collaboration on national issues such as working towards Vision 2020, the target year for Malaysia to claim her position as a developed nation.

"Education is one area where we can work together, for example, over the proposal to re-introduce English-language teaching in national schools. Since Gerakan works on diverse issues, including non-Chinese issues, we can also assist MCA in these areas," he said.

According to Chia, attempts have also been made to make amends and reduce hostility between the top and middle-ranking party leaders in view of the upcoming general election due by November next year.

"People do not want to see Gerakan and MCA quarrelling in public. Whether it will last remains to be seen. I hope it can continue but it also takes two to clap," he added.

Read the full text of Chia's answers in the Q&A forum here .