EVERY position in MCA — even the president’s and deputy president’s — can be contested in the party’s September elections, its president Wee Ka Siong said. 

Wee said the party fully subscribed to the principles of democracy; hence, there was no likelihood of it following its Barisan Nasional (BN) ally Umno in preventing contests for the top two posts. 

Umno had earlier passed a motion at its 2022 general assembly to ensure that the positions of its president and his deputy could not be challenged.  

Having won the MCA presidency in a three-cornered fight in 2018, Wee said that his party had always adhered to the core values of democracy. 

“MCA will stick to these core values. The party elections will be open and unfettered,” he told journalists at a special pre-Chinese New Year interview. 

“If democracy, freedom, and fairness are values we can dispense with, then this party shouldn’t exist.” 

The Ayer Hitam MP also pointed out that MCA had set a precedent for other parties by unanimously adopting in 2003 a nine-year term limit for presidents. 

When asked whether he would defend his post, Wee said it was too early to talk about it. 

“I still have time to think about it. After all, the nomination for the post will only open in August.” 

In the meantime, Wee said he would strive to make the party strong again. 

“Wee Jeck Seng (Tanjung Piai) and I are the party’s only two MPs and the obligation is therefore on us to strengthen the party until the party polls.” 

Wee also said he would focus on grooming young leaders. 

“Suffice it to say we currently have about a dozen successors being groomed,” he said. 

Najib factor 

On BN’s dismal showing in the recent general election (GE15), Wee blamed it on a disjointed campaign brought about by the jailing of former Umno president Najib Razak over his role in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal. 

He said that when Najib, a former prime minister, was ordered to serve time after failing to overturn his conviction, BN’s information campaign via various social media platforms went to pieces. 

“We have to admit this. In the Malacca and Johor state elections, it was easy to get our message across via Najib’s four million social media followers.” 

To add to BN’s woes, he said, rival parties successfully exploited its weaknesses. 

The PKR-led coalition Pakatan Harapan captured 82 parliamentary seats, the most in GE15.   

The Bersatu-led Perikatan Nasional was in second place with 73 seats, BN secured 30, Gabungan Parti Sarawak gained 23, and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah took six. 

MCA, a component member of BN, only won two parliamentary seats. It was left out of the Anwar Ibrahim cabinet. – January 27, 2023.