ANALYSIS | With the MCA annual general meeting (AGM) just around the corner, party grassroots are bearing grudges against certain Umno leaders for their recent bullying tactics and anti-Chinese remarks.

And to add oil to fire, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who is also Umno president, has now threatened to sue former MCA chief Ling Liong Sik.

From Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob 'boycott Chinese traders' remark to Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Mohamad Hasan’s 'let BN partners die' comment and now Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Deputy Minister Tajuddin Abdul Rahman’s 'slap Chinese' remark, MCA feelings seem to be simply ignored by Umno despite relentless protests by the latter.

But what MCA should focus on are national issues such as the RM2.6 billion scandal, the Goods and Services Tax and the ringgit's depreciation.

This is the opinion voiced by a Selangor MCA division chief who said that he would prefer his identity to remain undisclosed.

He lamented that the current MCA leadership does not speak up on national issues simply because they want to safeguard their own government positions and thus MCA descends into a collective silence.

"Those who have their own interests at heart would not speak up while others feel that whatever they say is pointless.

"For one group (the beneficiaries), they want to protect their government posts. As for the rest, they have given up," he said.

After Ling trained his guns on Najib’s RM2.6 billion scandal, what followed was a threat of legal action from the prime minister himself.

MCA leaders 'heartless, selfish'

Seemingly, Ling is an easy target as Najib has not sued former premier Mahathir Mohamad or Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin, both who have done more damage to Najib's reputation than Ling ever has.

What is worse, not a single leader from the current MCA leadership has shown solidarity with Ling and this has irritated some portions of the grassroots.

This prompted the Selangor MCA division chief to describe the current party leadership as 'selfish' and 'heartless'.

"Ling's statement was correct. You did not come clean on then RM2.6 billion, so you need to resign. Many national leaders would have stepped down if this had happened to them.

"But MCA distanced itself from Ling. This shows how heartless MCA is. Is Ling's statement wrong? Why do these people not dare to speak up?" he asked.

The reason, he noted, was because MCA had too much interests and no bargaining chips with Umno.

“For instance, those in MCA who became deputy ministers through the senator platform. If you offend the PM, your senatorship would be withdrawn. So no more position, driver and salary,” he said.

As MCA was no longer functional, the grassroots' sentiment was that it will be 'game over' for the party at the next general election, which would see it lose its seven parliamentary seats and 11 state seats.

​Politically impotent 'eunuchs'

“For Umno, MCA is a liability. They do not want MCA. Even Umno divisions have abandoned MCA […] they do not share their grants anymore. So, take care of yourself, MCA,” he rued.

In wake of MCA distancing itself from Ling’s statement, former MCA veep Gan Ping Sieu has urged the MCA current leadership to support their ex-president.

Ling himself has said that he will not apologise for asking Najib to resign and has said he will defend himself in court.

MCA Sabak Bernam division chief Kee Au Kau, however, feels that MCA chief Liow Tiong Lai has done his best in dealing with Umno.

What seems to be the real problem, he argues, is that the 'eunuchs' around 'emperor' Liow are politically impotent thus making Liow an easy target when he voices up on important issues.

"Najib even dared to axe Muhyiddin, so why would he be afraid of you (Liow)?"

"For the likes of Najib and his deputy Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, if Liow speaks up in the cabinet against extreme racist remarks, they will not hesitate to slap him down.

“They would say: 'Bear in mind, MCA retaining its seats in the next polls is dependent on us. Without us, you are doomed'," he observed.

Thus, Kee urged the MCA central leadership to step up to the plate and share Liow’s burden. "If you ask Liow alone to speak up all the time, he will only be chastised by Umno.

No one will play 'bad cop'

"Those vice-presidents such as Chew Mei Fun, Chua Tee Yong, Lee Chee Leong, Hou Kok Chung and the other central committee members should also come out and speak.

“It looks like they only care about themselves [...] busy getting datuk-ships, datuk seri-ships and senatorships. People around Liow are like this, not working for the party's interests," Kee lambasted.

MCA’s 62nd annual general meeting will be convened this weekend at the party headquarters.

Whether the grassroots' grudge will metamorphose into something bigger as delegates from nationwide gather in Kuala Lumpur remains a concern.

Nevertheless, MCA delegates interviewed by Malaysiakini this week opined that there will no fireworks during the AGM.

"We know we are being looked down upon. We need to be united […] I do not smell any sign (of protests)," MCA legal bureau chief Tay Puay Chuan said.

A Sabah leader who declined to be named, too said this weekend would be peaceful as the delegates would view coming to the AGM as akin to coming to the 'family home'.

“No one would like to play the bad cop (against the leadership) during the AGM. It has never happened, even during Chua Soi Lek’s era when infighting was serious.

“Those who attend the AGM are seniors in the party so even if they are bearing grudges they will be quiet, give face and leave at the end of the AGM,” he revealed.

ADRIAN WONG GAH JUNN is a Malaysiakini team member.