A more aggressive MCA emerges

Nov 9 - MCA has in recent weeks stepped up its multi-racial rhetoric and distanced itself from its senior partner Umno in the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.

The party even appears to be backing the opposition on Chinese-related issues in what appears to be part of a strategy to regain lost support.

Last month's party elections saw leaders promising to be more vocal and outspoken.

Last week, it voiced its support for the Penang and Selangor Pakatan Rakyat-led state governments over multi-lingual signboards in the former and the appointment of Low Siew Moi as the acting General Manager of the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS).

"Ironically, the very people in Malaysia who cheer for Obama do not think that a Chinese lady is deemed fit to lead PKNS," president Datuk Ong Tee Keat said in a statement.

Wanita MCA chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, who led the initial charge on the PKNS issue, also questioned the decision made by Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim to appoint a Bumiputera to eventually replace the Low.

The MCA's Legal Bureau then demanded an apology from Umno's Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, the former Selangor Menteri Besar, for making "sensitive, irresponsible statements calculated to sow disunity amongst Malaysians" over the appointment of Low.

However, party leaders insist that they have always been addressing these issues, but behind closed doors.

"We might be solving problems internally before but now our approach is different," Chew said when contacted by The Malaysian Insider.

While she said that the party had taken a contrary stance to its Barisan Nasional partner Umno, it was a "professional stand" but "nowadays people politicise everything."

Deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek conceded that the party needed to be more outspoken because it is the wishes of members and the Chinese community.

"What was only discussed behind closed doors, we are now stating in the open because under our previous leadership, we were perceived as doing nothing.

"But there is no way we can make more noise than the opposition so more than that, we must also take action and influence policy because we are in government," he explained to The Malaysian Insider.

He further rejected the idea that taking an opposing stand to Umno would strain ties.

"Umno leaders at national level do not share the sentiments that have been voiced out by the few local leaders," the former Health Minister said.

At the grassroots, Puchong division deputy chief Datuk Theng Book concurred, saying that Umno leaders "have to play to certain political sentiments too."

"But anyone can see that if you appoint a capable person and PKNS profits, then Malays are the ones who will benefit out of that," he added.

Political scientist Wong Chin Huat's analysis of the issue is similar to that of Dr Chua's but for different reasons.

"MCA has no choice but to back the opposition in these matters so as not to be seen as merely an Umno advocate. If it cannot find any relevance, it will be wiped out in the next General Elections.

"So ironically, by opposing Umno and fighting for its own survival, it is also fighting for Umno's survival as BN cannot survive without MCA."

Wong also added that while MCA needs to force political reforms, such as abolishing the Internal Security Act, pushing for media freedom and local elections (which would give them a role again in the Chinese majority PR-held states), it has to do so from a position where it is willing to leave BN.

"If not, being vocal only makes them a paper tiger," he concluded.

-TMI