MCA presidential candidate Gan Ping Sieu today pledged to have the party leave Barisan Nasional if he wins in the polls next month.

He also described the party election as a referendum on whether MCA should remain with the former ruling coalition that has been its home since before independence, when it was known as the Alliance.

“The first step is to restore MCA and rebuild its dignity. To do this, we must be independent of BN, be self-reliant and start over,” Gan said at a press conference today, where he announced his manifesto.

He will face outgoing deputy president Wee Ka Siong and Beruas MCA Youth chief Ngoo Teck Keong. President Liow Tiong Lai has said he will not seek re-election following the party’s dismal performance in the 14th general election, in which he also failed to defend his Bentong federal seat.

In GE14, MCA contested in 39 parliamentary seats but only won one – Ayer Hitam – by Wee, its incumbent. It also contested 90 state seats but only won two.

Gan today said MCA should no longer be a part of BN because of lynchpin party Umno’s close ties with Islamist party PAS and their right-wing politics that frequently employ the race and religion card. He also cited the criminal charges Umno’s leaders were facing. 

All these, Gan said, were in violation of MCA’s core values.

He said it would be “certain death” for MCA to remain in BN and leaving the coalition would give it a second chance at life.

He urged the grassroots not to fear life outside BN, as MCA must chart a new path in a new political landscape.

“Malaysia’s political future is no longer (based) on a (single) dominant political party, but on a multi-party political alliance,” he said.

The MCA elections will be held on November 3 and 4.

Gan’s running mate for deputy president is MCA deputy chairman Tee Siew Kiong. Wee, meanwhile, has picked party Perak chief Mah Hang Soon as his running mate. – October 22, 2018.