March 30, 2010

MCA Emerges Stronger: The Challenges Ahead

BBB, 12 R. Awal = 29 March (Monday):

Unexpected results of MCA leadership election were counted. Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek emerged the winner (901) as the ninth President of MCA defeated his incumbents Datuk Seri Ong Ka Teng (833) and Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat (578) both were the former Presidents. Ong Tee Keat a young leader that considerd had a bright future lost the leadership that the party trusted him as he could not handle the conflict in MCA wisely nearly a year before. While Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, who eagerly suggested to reelected leadership in MCA who said aligned to Ka Ting as expected won (1,171) the Deputy President as he defeated Datuk Seri Kong Cho (1,106). The other winners of Vice Presidents are Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen (1,528), Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai (1,469), Datuk Chor hee Heung (1,202) and Goh Ping Sieu (1,202). The voters in MCA brushed aside the opinion that looked Ong Ka Teng as rescuer.By the election the MCA looks stronger and the supporters of MCA hoped the conflict among the leaders would be end and new era would be opened.

What are the possiblitis facing the MCA and expectations of supporters? The first priority is to unite the faction leaders that result from the election. Is it the loser would lost everything and the winner would win everything ? Would the losers would given places in party ? If there are elements of unsatisfaction its would be the seeds of conflict that would return. The factions in MCA are not only among the leaders, but among the Chinese themselves. The factions made MCA badly defeated in the last March 2008 election, so the new leaders need to chart a new plan and strategy that could recovered the weakness of MCA and regained the trust of Chinese voters that already devided.. However the image of MCA as a racial party, like UMNO tend to defend and protect Malays as MIC to defend and protect Indians, so the MCA must defend and protect Chinese. Historically since independent, the three parties actively helped their races economically, socially and educationally. As most of the Chinese engaged in business and economy so the MCA helped and solved the problem of Chinese business and economy. As the Chinese master in business and economy and supported by parties, so the images of MCA known as `taukey` party. The well known leaders brought such images like Tan Cheng Lok, Tan Siew Sin, Tan Soo Kwan, Lee Leong Sik and others. The image of MCA is the party for the rich and cooperate men, like UMNO provided opportunities for the cronies, while the majority people forgot and left behind. So the rich became richer and the poor became poorer.

For other faction in Chinese community that struggle for democracy, justice and equality tend to other party that provide such struggle for human dignity such in DAP, PAS and PKR in Pakatan Rakyat. That why in March 2008 the Chinese voted for Pakatan Rakyat. The problems facing MCA that party could not change the image contradictly as a tycoon party and at the same time as a socialist party. The victory of MCA new leadership just to return to a status-quo together with Umno and other parties in BN. The real test and victory or defeated is in the next 13th election. However with the new leadership in MCA would invited the crisis of value among BN. Although Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said the Chinese have forgive Datuk Seri Soi Lek as the Chinese more liberal, but not such easy for other community such as muslims and Indians. So the problem of MCA would be problem of BN and for Pakatan Rakyat especially PAS, it is easier to shoot the birds of same feathers that float together !

Thank You.

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