CHINESE-based MCA and its rival DAP have long banked on Chinese votes to win elections but have now embarked strategies to gain support of other races to spread their influence.

In this regard, MCA has opened up its membership to others and instructed its leaders to be multilingual. As for DAP, it is continuing on creating more Malay leaders and diluting its Chineseness. 

While leaders from both the parties are confident their strategies will work in attracting non-Chinese to support them, especially among Malays, political analysts say this would be a tough challenge indeed. 

MCA spokesman Chong Yew Chuan said the party wants to show it is pluralistic by admitting members from other ethnic groups. 

“Although it is a Chinese-based party, it is taking a multiracial line, which is also in line with the party’s creation,” he told The Malaysian Insight. 

Chong believes that by accepting non-Chinese affiliated party members, people will understand that MCA accepts the views of non-Chinese Malaysians and that it wants to help them with their aspirations. 

This will also help party members think from the perspective of other ethnic groups. 

“What we have to do is not just talk about the issues of ethnic Chinese, but how to operate in multiracial politics. This way, non-Chinese supporters will have a platform while current party members can get a different perspective and opinion.” 

Chong is hopeful this will allow the Malay community to take a good look and understand that MCA is not just a Chinese party. 

On how Malay voters viewed MCA, Chong said that many people have different views. Some may even think MCA is a Chinese chauvinist party like DAP, he said. 

“Of course, people who know us know we are not extreme and can treat all ethnic groups fairly.” 

He said in order to ensure Malay voters can understand MCA’s views, party president Wee Ka Siong has asked candidates and leaders to be bilingual so that they can convey their messages.

He also asked that their statements be issued in several languages. 

“We also want to let our party members know we can work on issues other than those affecting the Chinese community.” 

He added that MCA has started recruiting non-Chinese affiliated party members, and it may adopt a similar approach to Islamist PAS. 

These new affiliated party members will not be able to participate in party elections or hold party positions. However, they may conduct their own elections like the PAS non-Muslim Supporters Congress.

DAP’s strategy

For DAP, the strategy is to have sufficient Malay members and leaders so that the community starts accepting the party, said Selangor DAP lawmaker Wong Siew Ki. 

She said in the past, when most DAP members were Chinese and Indians, Malay community issues were often ignored. 

However, through the participation of more Malay leaders in recent years, she is of the opinion that it is possible to better integrate all ethnic groups. 

She added that in the past, meetings that did not involve a Malay leader may be scheduled on a Friday afternoon. Now, when they have Malay leader joining them, adjustments are made to accommodate Friday prayers. 

Wong said that unlike DAP, MCA had adopted an easier political direction in the past 60 years by being in a coalition with ethnic groups at its core. 

“MCA didn’t have to think about improving and opening the party, when in fact they should have. 

“For the past 55 years, we have been working hard (for the support of Malay voters), but MCA has not. They are just enjoying the lazy results,” she said. 

She said Chinese voters were divided between DAP and PKR, and that MCA’s role has become smaller. 

“You (MCA) haven’t taken any efforts in the past 60 years. It is very difficult to do it now.” 

When it comes to attracting young Malays to join DAP, Wong said it is not difficult, but it is necessary to select and filter to avoid skeptics. 

“It’s not whether (selecting) the elite or not, but whether they agree with DAP’s philosophy. Malays can join DAP and have more opportunities. 

“When you see this political party has more opportunities, it will attract a lot of people, and there will also be a lot of sceptics. How do you filter these sceptics is the focus.” 

She believes that when young Malays see the opportunities that DAP can provide, they will not be able to resist joining.

Major challenges ahead 

Lau Zhe Wei, assistant professor in political science at the International Islamic University of Malaysia, said even with DAP opening up to other ethnic groups, it will still be very difficult to get the support of Malay voters. 

Looking at the 14th general election, he said the seats won by DAP were seats with a majority of Chinese voters. 

“Malay candidates from DAP can win these seats, but they need a lot of support. 

“At present, it is still impossible for the Malay candidates to contest in Malay-majority seats. It is still impossible.” 

Presently, he said, DAP will not succeed at Malay-majority seats as voters will not accept a candidate from DAP, even if they are Malay. 

However, with the split among Umno, PAS and Bersatu, Lau said it is beneficial to DAP. 

“Splitting the votes is good for Pakatan Harapan,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Oh Ei Sun, a fellow with the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, said that Malaysian Chinese leaders have issued statements in Mandarin in the last few years and yet expect to attract Malay voters. 

When it comes to attracting support from Malay voters, Oh believes DAP’s difficulty lies in the past labels given to it by Umno, such as “communist party”, “socialist”, “will eliminate Malay privileges” and so on. 

“This has made it quite difficult for DAP. But in recent years, DAP has attracted a lot of Malay voters in urban areas, paving the way for Malay MPs from the party.” 

For MCA, Oh believes it still needs the support of its ally Umno to gain the support of Malay voters. 

However, he said Umno may be more inclined to go to Malay-majority seats and will not help MCA to expand its influence in Malay constituencies. 

“If Umno can win the seat for itself, why would it give the seat to MCA?” – April 19, 2021.