Political commentators today poured cold water on the proposed MCA-Gerakan merger, saying that such a political marriage does not look promising, at least not in the near future.

The two largest Chinese-based parties in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition have been toying with the merger idea for some time and last night, their presidents announced that the merger was a possibility in the long haul as a move to strengthen the BN.

At the same time, MCA chief Ong Ka Ting and his Gerakan counterpart Dr Lim Keng Yaik did not discount the possibility that all the five Chinese-based BN parties will merge in the future.

"It is impossible," said Centre for Malaysian Chinese Studies Associate Research Fellow Phoon Wing Keong when contacted for his comments on the proposed merger.

He said there must be two factors for such a merger - a strong challenge from outside and when one party is weak and not progressing - but they do not exist for the MCA and Gerakan at this point in time.

"The case of PRM and its desire to merge with Keadilan is a case in point. One was weak and the other needed the extra hand to strengthen itself," Poon said.

More manageable

He also felt that Umno would not be keen on the merger. "Umno would prefer the Chinese to be split in a few parties so that the community could be 'managed' more easily".

Phoon speculated that within the next few months, MCA and Gerakan would be squabbling over their quota of electoral seats, particularly in Penang and this may cause uneasiness within the rank-and-file of the two parties.

Suaram director Dr Kua Kia Soong also felt that the MCA-Gerakan merger was a "long shot"

"MCA is a Chinese party while Gerakan is multi-racial. In this 21 st century, multi-racialism is the key word. It is better to be a multi-racial party. Any merger should preserve the many facets of multi-racialism which has benefitted the country and not breed racism," he said.

Another political commentator, Josh Hong described the proposed merger as an "election gimmick".

"The BN parties want to project a united front just before the elections," he said.

Hong said that as Gerakan is a multi-racial party, the non-Chinese members in the party would have no place and "this is tantamount to betraying them in the event of a merger".

"Which party will be dissolved and who will be the chief minister of Penang?" he posed.

Hong also said that since Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has just taken over the reins of the country and Ong Ka Ting over MCA, it is still too early to gauge their impact on the BN and the government.

Working together

At yesterday's MCA-Gerakan unity dinner in Alor Setar, Kedah, Ong declared that the proposal was not an election gimmick as the two parties had agreed to the idea of working together not only for the coming general election, but for the long term.

"We want to study how we can enhance our co-operation and one day, if all our members agree, the two parties can merge into one entity," he was quoted as saying in the New Straits Times today.

Meanwhile Bernama quoted Gerakan's Lim as telling reporters that it was still too early to talk about the dissolution of one party.

"It isn't time for that yet, don't stray too far. What is important now is this cooperation between the two parties".

Lim said he agreed with the proposal as it was not only good for BN, but would also enhance the spirit of unity and co-operation for the community and the nation.