AFTER announcing that it will not contest in the state elections, MCA said the party will take time to re-strategise for the next five years so it can be ready to face the 16th general election.

In the 14th general election (GE14) in 2018, the party won only one parliamentary and two state seats. In GE15, it scored two parliamentary and seven state seats.

Its Selangor liaison committee chairman Ng Chok Sin told The Malaysian Insight after considering the current political situation, the party’s central committee decided it would be more appropriate to utilise the next few years to get the party in shape for the next general election.

After it became apparent they were getting the snub during seat distribution talks, MCA secretary-general Chong Sin Woon said the party will now step up party reforms.

Ng also said the party, since last week, had begun to brief its grassroots members on the reasons why it is not standing the state elections as well as its GE16 plans.

“We hope the members understand the intention of the party.”

That was not the case initially, the party’s Selangor liaison committee secretary Leong Kok Wee said.

He said the members from Selangor were vociferous and insistent on contesting in the polls.

“However, when the party central committee explained to them that the party has to reform and reorganise, they began to understand the rationale why it’s best to sit out,” he said.

Ng said the initial reaction was for the party to contest under its own flag after failing to get the nod to contest in its five “traditional seats”. These seats include Sungai Pelek, Kuala Kubu Bharu and Rawang.

Although disappointed, the Chinese-based party, which is part of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, has pledged to campaign for all the BN candidates in the polls.

“MCA will fulfil its responsibility as a BN member party by assisting candidates in the six state elections,” said Chong.

Ng said while MCA will assist candidates from its BN coalition partners, it will not campaign for Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidates.

“Anyway, they have not requested our assistance,” he added.

Selangor MCA, according to its state liaison committee secretary Leong Kok Wee, had not been involved in seat negotiations in the state since the talks first started in February.

“I was made to understand that initially Pakatan Harapan did not want to include MCA in the seat negotiations. They only invited Umno,” Leong said.

“That was until the MCA expressed its dissatisfaction. We were then invited to join the talks.”

Leong said MCA had requested for seats because the party had made some “small improvements” in last year’s general election compared to its performance in 2018.

“In 2018, we only won one parliamentary and two state seats. In GE15, we increased our parliamentary seats to two and state seats by five to seven.”

Leong said despite the improved performance, MCA had not gained the support of the people in general, especially the Chinese voters.

“The party now feels it is time to go for broke and carry out reforms in the next few years to put right all the things that are not right.

“Hopefully, we will do better in the next general election.”

Leong, who is also Selangor MCA chief, said the decision to assist Umno candidates in the campaign was because in the last general election, “our candidates were also assisted by Umno”.

“MCA is obliged to help Umno and friendly parties.”

MCA not contesting in Selangor is giving the state’s deputy treasurer and Hulu Langat division chief Jeffrey Lee a “strange feeling”.

He said although the decision not to contest was “a bit strange” for him, he still respects the choice of the party central committee to sit out.

“It could be good in the longer term.”

Bandar Tun Razak MCA division women chief Jamelia Looi Heng Ling said she is also thinking of the long term.

“I am not disappointed,” she told The Malaysian Insight.

“Let’s be honest. It’s clear MCA has not gained the support of the people in the last two general elections.”

Another BN party following in MCA’s footsteps not to stand the election is MIC.

The party has also announced that it will not field candidates in any of the six states facing polls – Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu – and will instead focus on preparing for GE16.

In a statement, MIC secretary-general R.T. Rajasekaran said after discussing the current political situation and listening to the views of its members, the party decided to also stay out of the elections during meeting of its central committee on June 30.

Prime Minister and Pakatan Harapan chairman Anwar Ibrahim welcomed the two parties’ pledge to remain loyal to the unity government despite not participating in the elections.

“Both of them (MCA president Wee Ka Siong and MIC president S.A. Vigneswaran) have contacted me and made it clear that they will not be contesting the state election but will give their support, which I believe is within the purview of BN.”

“I would like to thank both parties for their readiness to continue to support the unity government in the state elections and defend the government’s position,” Anwar had said.

Nomination of candidates will take place on July 29, while polling day is set for August 12. – July 12, 2023.