MCA fearful of members jumping ship in droves

Liow Sze Xian Liow Sze Xian Updated 5 years ago · Published on 6 Jun 2018 10:45AM · 5 Comments

MCA has 1.1 million members and was almost wiped out in GE14, winning only one federal seat by a margin of 303 votes and two state seats. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, June 6, 2018.

BARISAN Nasional’s second-largest party is at risk of losing its members in droves as it scrambles to cope with its worst election performance in history and loss of federal power.

Barely three weeks after the historic 14th general election, 170 Sungai Udang MCA members in Malacca, including a former village chief, quit the party to join PKR, expressing their confidence in the new Pakatan Harapan government led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“Of course, there will be people who want to quit the party after we become an opposition party, (as) allocations will be affected,” Pandan MCA chief Leong Kok Wee told The Malaysian Insight.

Leong said this was the first time for many MCA members in former BN stronghold states to experience a change in government: “They are still in shock.”

BN retained only Perlis, Pahang and Sarawak after the May 9 polls that saw Pakatan Harapan sweep into power in Putrajaya and former BN fortresses, including Johor, Malacca and Negri Sembilan. 

As party members lose access to federal and state allocations, state exco, local councillors and village chief appointments, more might desert MCA but Leong refused to speculate on the numbers.

The party has 1.1 million members. It was almost wiped out in GE14, winning only one federal seat by a margin of 303 votes and two state seats. 

In the previous election, the party won seven federal seats and 11 state seats.

Just slightly more than a decade ago at its peak in 2004, MCA won 31 federal seats and 75 state seats. 

On the bright side, Petaling Jaya Utara deputy division chief Ch’ng Soo Chau said the party could use this opportunity to rid itself of “opportunist” members. 

“Yes, a lot of grassroots members are very disappointed with the election results. (But) those whose hearts are no longer with MCA will only burden the party.

“Those who are loyal will adjust themselves,” he said. 

He added that members had told him MCA could no longer afford to remain subservient to BN lynchpin party Umno.

“If Umno doesn’t change, I think MCA must quit BN,” said Ch’ng.

His sentiments echoed that of MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong, who had said last week that MCA would no longer bear the brunt of Umno’s mistakes nor be its apologist.

Wee’s remarks drew a scathing response from Umno information chief Annuar Musa, who said that the party would no longer prop up a crippled MCA.

MCA Wanita chief Heng Seai Kie said the party leadership was consulting the grassroots for feedback on its direction and the transformation it needs.

“We have to reflect and realign ourselves in the shortest time. Listening to the grassroots, including people’s sentiments, will help with MCA’s revamp,” she said. – June 6, 2018.

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Comments

  • Do you think the leopard will ever change her spots? Do you think that Umno will ever change? As long as the present set of leaders who has proven themselves corrupted, bigoted, racist, ultra- religious, ever been again made leaders, MCA got no future. This is the truth. Mark my words.

    Posted 5 years ago by Peace Maker · Reply

  • Again, you are irrelevant and after GE 14 you are so worthless and soon will be forgotten.

    Posted 5 years ago by Conscience Moral · Reply

  • GOOD, IF SOME PEOPLE FORGOT TO "CHECK & BALANCE" THE OTHER, THEREBY CONTRIBUTING TO RAMPANT ABUSE & CORRUPTION IN THE COUNTRY..

    Posted 5 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • MCA is a towkay party, once a towkay go bankrupt, can that towkay do the same business again? Not very likely.. Tunku said it before UMNO is the "lampu ajaib" - once UMNO lose it, its not that easy to steal it back again. For MCA, they can never have that "lampu ajaib" again.. They need to find a new business

    Posted 5 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • The reality is - MCA needs UMNO to survive. Without UMNO's vote - Wee would have been "killed" in Ayer Itam. MCA has little or no bargaining power in BN (especially with UMNO) . The same goes for MIC. Race politic is viable for UMNO due to its large Malay base. But for MCA/MIC - its too small to make a dent. Gerakan - for all intend and purpose is a Chinese party trying to behave like a multi-racial party.

    Posted 5 years ago by Chris Ng · Reply