MCA contests take shape

“Speaking for myself, it would be the happiest day of my life when we can wind up the MCA and I can cease to be its president in order to transform the Alliance party into one party whose members join it directly instead of through three communal organisations.”

“We, of course, have our Alliance Direct Membership Organisation, but at the moment this is not a major component of the party.”

It was 37 years ago, on Feb 7, 1971, when former MCA president Tan Siew Sin made these remarks as he addressed a gathering of influential Chinese community leaders. The quotes are published in “Blueprint for Unity” (selected speeches of Tun Tan Siew Sin 1972).

Siew Sin continued, “It might be argued that I am being very communal when I talk about Chinese unity in the same way that Umno talks about Malay unity. Let us, however, be honest with ourselves. Thanks to the heritage of our past, the overwhelming numbers of our citizens regard themselves as Malays, Chinese, Indians and so on. They do not regard themselves as Malaysians.”

“I agree that we must hasten the day when we can regard ourselves as Malaysians first, last and all the time but this is necessarily a long process and will take time. It cannot be done overnight. In the meantime, we must be realistic and accept hard facts.”

And indeed, the hard facts of the electorate mood have indicated at the “308” general election and recently the Permatang Pauh by-election. More and more Malaysians are rejecting the communalistic policies of the Barisan Nasional parties and their fermenting power abuse, mismanagement and rampant corruption.

MCA was not ready during Tan Siew Sin’s time. Is MCA ready now (for winding up?) given the context of Siew Sin’s speech made in 1971? The answer is obviously not.

Against this emerging political landscape, some 2,188 MCA ordinary central delegates excluding 151 division chairpersons, 42 central committee members, 15 members of parliament, 31 state assemblypersons and 11 senators will determine the fate of its leaders and the party’s direction on Oct 27-28 next month.

Delegates must be wise

Historically, Siew Sin’s quoted text has an ironic twist in today’s political background that exposes a weakening Umno leadership and potentially threatens a break-up of the Barisan Nasional.

This brings up a pertinent question as to whether changes in the MCA leadership will bear any significance or breakthrough in the old politics of the Alliance, or today’s Barisan Nasional?

Will the 2,437 party delegates rise up to the challenge in electing competent leaders capable of removing stubborn obstacles in the MCA path in the face of an emerging two-party system that is constantly changing the political landscape?

Who among the three contenders for the party presidency - Ong Tee Keat, Dr Chua Soi Lek or Chua Jui Meng is the most capable to lead the party into the new political arena after the March 8 debacle? Among the three aspirants, only Tee Keat has officially announced his candidacy while the other two have yet to officially declare their interest.

Will the contest among presidential candidates be decided on moral values or performance-track record? Should votes be cast on emotionally-charged issues, personality traits or will delegates think rationally on the future direction of the party?

As for the battle for the deputy presidency, the potential candidates are keeping the delegates guessing.

Rumours are circulating that Donald Lim Siang Chai (incumbent vice president) and Ong Ka Chuan (secretary-general) are keen on the post. Dr Fong Chan Onn (another veep) is also a possible contender but he may opt for the appointed post of secretary-general in the new line-up.

On the secrecy-shrouded or last minute announcement for the deputy’s post, it is best summed up by a party insider who said, “This last minute announcement is actually a strategic decision for the contestant to gather support from the political divide to form a team.”

For the October polls, it is also interesting to note that those holding government posts, dubbed by some as “heavyweights”, are also vying to become vice-presidents.

Dr Ng Yen Yen (minister for women, family and community development) and Liow Tiong Lai (health minister) have both decided to leave their chieftain posts in the women and youth wings to go for the vice presidency. Expected to join the fray are Tan Chai Ho (Wilayah state chief), Chor Chee Heung (deputy home minister), Dr Hou Kok Chung (deputy higher education minister) and Kong Cho Ha (deputy finance minister).

No dynamic leadership

Delegates could have a wider field to choose from come Oct 27-28 as some party veterans are also said to be keen on the vice presidency.

With Tiong Lai (Youth) and Yen Yen (Wanita) vacating their respective posts in their wings, others are waiting to fill in.

Yen Yen’s protégé, Chew Mei Fun (current deputy leader), will contest for the wanita chief’s post while Wee Ka Siong (deputy education minister) has formally accepted the challenge for the youth chief contest. Ling Hee Leong has also indicated his interest but has indicated he would do so provided he captures the Perak youth chief’s post in its Sept 6 elections.

The picture for youth and wanita contests will be clearer only after the youth and wanita state- level elections this weekend.

As more and more issues are thrown at the MCA in the run-up to its polls, the informed and educated public are perceiving the party with increasingly wariness and scepticism, questioning its role and relevance within Barisan Nasional.

Triggered by the popular acceptance of a two-party system and that of the Pakatan coalition, many within MCA are beginning to ponder whether there is a future in a communal party at all. Weathered by old-fashioned policies and saddled with credibility gaps, the image of the party continues to deteriorate.

Will the same familiar figures within the MCA vying for higher posts make any difference to the future of the party? Will the party be seen as an “old product in new packaging?”

Like “bad horticulture,” destroying the seedbeds of fresh leadership, the party seems to be devoid of leadership dynamism and acumen now.

The “succession plan” of the Dr Ling Liong Sik era and later, the “Ong dynasty” had stunted bold and imaginative leadership at various levels.

Publicly, the party is viewed as one with a weak leadership, incapable of carrying out its responsibilities to its members, the Chinese community and within the Barisan Nasional.

In short, as French critic Henri Peyre once said, “Leadership can be but a broad ideal proposed by the culture of a country, instilled into the young through the schools, but also through the family, the intellectual atmosphere, the literature, the history, the ethical teaching of that country.”

MCA leaders will have to seriously ponder upon these thoughts of Henri Peyre as they head for their party elections next month.