MCA should stay in Barisan Nasional (BN) as it could end up nowhere outside the coalition, observers said.

They said MCA – with just two MPs – should not ditch BN unless it is offered substantial ministerial positions by new allies.

Over the weekend, MCA president Wee Ka Siong said his party was ready to go solo should BN component parties form new partnerships and abandon its coalition members.

“Most importantly, MCA must insist on being a political party and not a welfare organisation,” he said at the party’s 70th annual general meeting at Wisma MCA in Kuala Lumpur.

Wee said party’s principles, as outlined by founder Tan Cheng Lock, remains a guiding force.

The former transport minister said the shifting political landscape following the 2022 general election had altered the dynamics among BN component parties.

Wee said MCA collaborated with other like-minded individuals across BN to carry reforms and re-establish the coalition’s core values.

He said BN’s interests must be prioritised and a spirit of perseverance was needed to achieve success.

James Chin of Tasmania University said as a multi-million-ringgit party, MCA should not abandon its struggle with BN as the party would go nowhere if it decides to do so.

He said Wee had to “talk big” in front of MCA members as many of them were angry after the party was left out of government appointments.

“They can go solo but they will get nowhere. Yes, MCA is a rich party. Its building in Jalan Ampang alone is worth hundreds of million of ringgit due to the location,” he said.

“It also owns The Star, which is a multimillion-ringgit entity. But all that money is worth nothing if you cannot get people to vote for you.

“Wee has to talk in such a tone because his members are angry. They are not happy with (BN chairman) Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as they were not given any post. They were also left out of the elections in six states.”

Oh Ei Sun, a political consultant at the Pacific Research Center of Malaysia, agrees with Chin.

However, he said MCA with its two parliamentary seats may still be sought after by any coalition eager to form a government with a slim majority.

“But association with PAS-dominated Perikatan Nasional (PN), for example, may further erode its electability among the Chinese voters,” he said.

Asked if MCA should go solo in the near future, Oh said the party should stay with BN unless it is offered substantial posts by PN.

‘Be patient’

Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said MCA must be patient as it may end up like Gerakan if it decides to leave BN.

The academic said MCA has never recovered from its downfall since 2008.

“The Chinese are now solidly behind DAP, and MCA has never recovered from its losses,” he said.

“DAP has shown good performance in governing Penang and Selangor, and now at the federal level.

“MCA has to be patient. Umno is slowly getting back on its feet, so it needs to give Umno time. If MCA leaves BN, it will end up like Gerakan.

“If Umno regains its strength and Pakatan Harapan stays solid, I am sure MCA will be added to the government.” – October 24, 2023.