AFTER its trouncing in the 14th general election, where it lost six of its seven parliamentary seats, MCA will decide whether it will remain in the Barisan Nasional coalition after party elections on November 3 and 4.

This has been a contentious issue hotly debated by party members who blamed BN lynchpin party Umno for its leaders’ racial and religious rhetoric, which, they said, contributed to MCA’s defeat.

While party members who spoke to The Malaysian Insight expressed opposing views on the BN membership, they also hold on the belief that it would take a strong leadership to save the 69-year-old party from falling into irrelevance.

Grassroots leaders and members said they are awaiting the results of the elections, where they hope the new leadership will be more “daring” to speak up and provide clarity as to where the party is headed. 

Some called for drastic reforms to re-establish the party as a credible opposition force and to win back the confidence of Chinese voters. 

Indera Mahkota MCA division leader Quek Tai Seong said delegates should not make a hasty decision on BN membership, even if five months have passed since the general election. 

“After the party elections, the new leadership will come to power and it will not be too late to discuss this issue,” he said.

“There were 13 components in BN before. There are still three left. At present, if the political situation requires it, MCA can certainly leave BN. 

“But if other member parties abandon the BN concept, then they should be the ones which leave BN, instead of MCA.”

Quek said the party’s current leadership “is not suited” to make any decision on whether to withdraw from BN, adding that the issue is best left to the new leadership after the elections.

In September, outgoing president Liow Tiong Lai told a party convention in Selangor that he has told Umno that MCA is opposed to any racial or religious rhetoric. 

“BN will hold on to principles of moderation. If any component party, including Umno, moves towards racialism, religion, theocracy or extremism, then they will be left with only two choices,” he said.

“The first option is to dissolve Barisan Nasional as it will no longer be a harmonious gathering of races. The second option is to kick out Umno.”

Former MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek mocked Liow’s remarks.

“This has become the biggest political joke of the year. This kind of statement is not going to inspire confidence,” Chua said at the launch of his memoir in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, adding that MCA should withdraw from BN. 

MCA Hulu Selangor central delegate Lee Yong Ching said the new leadership will “make the most favourable decision for the party”.

“Whether MCA withdraws from BN or not is an important decision, which will affect the future the party. 

“MCA members must also accept that we are an opposition party. Therefore, the new leadership must also ensure that the party plays the proper role of an opposition party, to check the government, to ensure they do the right thing. We also need to look out for the rights and interests of the Chinese community.”

Kota Raja central delegate Lim Lok Tia said there are disadvantages to withdrawing from the coalition.

“Is it necessary to withdraw? It is not necessarily true it would be beneficial. As grassroots members, we can only do so much. As to whether we will stay in BN, we can only let the leadership decide.”

Deputy president Wee Ka Siong, the sole MCA parliamentarian, is expected to vie for the top post with Perak MCA chief Dr Mah Hang Soon as his running mate. 

MCA vice-president Gan Ping Sieu is also contesting the top post. His running mate for deputy president is Johor MCA deputy chairman and former exco member Tee Siew Kiong. 

Wee has not explicitly stated his position on whether MCA should withdraw from BN, saying the matter should be decided at the party’s central committee. 

Gan, on the other hand, pledged to take the party out of BN if he wins.

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.

In GE14, MCA contested 39 parliamentary seats but won only one – Ayer Hitam – held by its incumbent, Wee. It also contested 90 state seats but won only two. Umno won 54 parliamentary seats and MIC two. – October 26, 2018.