Gan to delegates: Want a firm leader or a flip-flop?

In a high-profile manner, MCA presidential candidate Gan Ping Sieu launched his manifesto today, which he described as a plan to can initiate changes in the Chinese-based political party.

Without mentioning names, Gan said in his speech that he wants the central delegates to choose either a firm man or a flip-flopping leader on national issues.

"Do we want a president who stays firm on his own, or a flip-flop president? Do we want a leader who has a clear stance or a president who can't even speak clearly?" he asked.

Gan (left) unveiled his manifesto before a 300-strong crowd of supporters, who responded with rounds of applause and cheers throughout the event.

The incumbent vice-president expressed hope that the central delegates would not only choose a party boss, but a leader who could lead it to face the next general election.

Asked whether he was directing his remarks at his rival Liow Tiong Lai, Gan flatly denied it.

Gan, Liow and former party president Ong Tee Keat are engaged in the battle for the throne.

Teaming up with Donald Lim

Gan, who is also deputy youth and sports minister, then openly invited MCA vice-president Donald Lim to join his camp in the party elections.

This drew overwhelming response from the supporters present, with Lim, who has declared his candidacy for deputy president, standing up and waving to the crowd to express his acceptance.

Lim, who was surrounded by the journalists later, said he happily accepted Gan’s invitation.

With Gan and Lim formally teaming up, they will face the pair of deputy president Liow Tiong Lai, who is going for the No 1 post with current Youth chief Wee Ka Siong as his running mate for post of deputy president.

Praising Lim as an experienced leader, Gan pledged to reunite the party members together with his partner, as they are less factional.

‘Follow Albert Einstein’

On MCA’s dilemma resulting from its dismal electoral performance, Gan quoted German-born theoretical physicist Albert Einstein, stressing that the only way out for the party was to change its attitude and mentality.

“As Albert Einstein said, one who repeats the same thing but expects a different outcome must be insane… that’s why we need to adjust ourselves,” he said.

Gan also confessed that he had been seen as the underdog in the three-cornered fight, but the situation was different now as he garnered a lot more support from the delegates.

He cited a recent case where MCA members were not allowed to dine at a restaurant in Kepong as a crucial point that the party should review its position in the Chinese community.

The the root cause for the public impression that MCA is merely a service-based party must be identified, Gan said, or the party members would simply be seen as “fire-fighters” preoccupied with service jobs for the community.

Below is his manifesto:

1) Politics:

• Equal partnership and party autonomy - Partnership of BN must be built on mutual respect and in the common interests. Independence and autonomy of our party can never be compromised:

• Political discourse from a national interest perspective - Moving away from the communal interests and adopting an approach towards national interests in our political pursuit;

• Inclusive politics at BN level - Participation in policy-making and the decision-making process of BN government must be real and apparent at all coalition levels; and,

• Wider ethnic representation in the public sector, including GLCs - To foster goodwill, enhance efficiency and effectiveness of the public delivery service.

2) Economy

• Pro-competition - To build a competition-conducive, business-friendly, and efficiency-orientated market for economic development and sustainable wealth creation for our nation;

• Pro-equal opportunity - To promote equal chance and access for economic success, irrespective of colour or creed; and,

• Liberalisation of economic policies - Lower entry barriers, remove restrictions and limitations and to ensure equal access to financial assistance, training and marketing network.

3) Education

• Advocate parental choice and equitable allocation of resources to all schools. Strengthen vocational and continuous skills training for human resource development.

4) Social

• Engagement with Civil Society - Improve discourse with multi-racial civil society groups, professional bodies and special interests groups over and above the traditional Chinese NGOs;

• Defend pluralism, diversity and freedom of choice of the people - Steadfastly protect the rights of all, as enshrined in the Federal Constitution; and,

• Social Justice - To defend the interests of the socially disadvantaged, the needy and the poor, irrespective of colour and creed. In particular, to allow young ones equal opportunity to realise their potential.

5) Party organisation

• Election process and Election culture - Further democratisation of party polls and to foster a healthy election culture. This includes the direct election of the party president, eradication of money politics and external interferences in MCA elections;.

• Establish MCA's Council of Elders - as provided for in the MCA constitution. This council would play an important advisory role, including the sharing of political experience and wisdom, and in the resolution and mediation of internal party conflicts;

• Set up a trustee committee to manage party assets - A professionally managed committee to ensure the maximisation of returns on party investments;

• Distribution of party resources - Returns from MCA's investment to be widely distributed for training and political activities, including preparation for the next general election at divisional and branch levels;

• MCA Bureaus with KPI - Bureaus to be modelled after cabinet portfolios, with a clear set of KPI;

• Outcome-based party management to ensure structured and well-planned party programmes and activities to allow for effective execution;

• Revitalise think-tank Insap to carry out wide and extensive research for the formulation of the party policies and party positions in the fields of politics, economics, cultural and social issues etc;

• School of Political Studies - provide structured modules of political training to ensure rejuvenation of party members and equip the MCA and its activists with the necessary skills for political discourse;

• Publicity and new media engagement - The party's information and publicity strategy to be further enhanced, taking into account the pervasive use of new technology;

• Activate dormant members - Set up a special bureau to activate and engage dormant members; and,

• Permanent election campaign directorate - Mine for feedback on local and national issues, constituency analysis and track trends to prepare for the next GE.