JUNE 20 – The MCA finally announced its reform roadmap, more than one month after the general election. The reform has triggered a doubt on its effectiveness as it is limited to the MCA and not extended to national politics and government.
MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Liow Tiong Lai, who is heading the special task force to look into transforming the party, announced four reform areas, namely organisational structure, party principles, enhancing communications with the people and empowering the people. He added that high transparency and effective management are needed and the party’s ideologies should be promoted comprehensively.
The performance of MCA is indeed part of the reasons why Chinese voters are dissatisfied with the party. The bigger factors, however, are government policies and public sector efficiency. Since the party has refused to join the Cabinet, it should then have a greater room to develop in national politics. The party, however, has neglected it.
If MCA leaders wish to reform, the party’s credibility should first be enhanced to convince the people that it can start again and contribute. However, it seems anticlimactic in the implementation of the resolution of not joining the Cabinet and not taking any official posts.
In the early stage, the MCA appeared to be very brave. Its leaders refused to accept Cabinet positions while some local leaders resigned and some service centres were closed. However, most with official posts did not resign, including Senators and village heads. They are trying to delay it and former party national organising secretary Datuk Tee Siew Kiong was appointed an executive member.
They have continued taking allowances but not serving the people, and the party takes no disciplinary action against them. It will affect the party’s credibility and no wonder many people have expected to see it overthrowing the resolution of not joining the Cabinet and not taking any official posts in the party’s general meeting scheduled in the end of this year.
I believe that mindset and attitude have determined the party’s pattern. For instance, party president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek lashed out at party vice-president Datuk Donald Lim and challenged him for a closed-door debate in a statement. It is an unprecedented move for a party president to challenge a vice-president for a debate, showing that he has got lost.
Chua should focus on major issues. In fact, Lim had commented on the SJK (C) Chin Woo land acquisition issue on the same day when Chua issued the statement. On June 17, Chua issued a statement on food hygiene and restaurant cleanliness. On that same day, party Publicity Bureau chairman Datuk Heng Seai Kie also issued a statement to condemn a bar operator in Sabah for naming a bar after the Buddha.
There are a number of national and Chinese community issues in recent days, including deaths in custody, the call for an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), restaurant robberies, the collapse of ramp at the Second Penang Bridge, the collapse of a lightning arrester pole in Penang and the return of haze, but no MCA leader has expressed their stand.
Instead, they commented only on small problems. If they keep marginalising themselves, the MCA will be forgotten sooner or later.
The reverse takeover (RTO) of Scope Industries by Matang Holdings is another puzzling issue. The MCA should find a way to stabilise its grassroots after suffering such a massive defeat in the general election, but the RTO deal would jeopardise the interests of party members.
The proposed RTO bid was unanimously rejected by small shareholders. While damaging the party president’s prestige, it has also awakened the people’s memory. What have the then five major programmes of the MCA brought to the Chinese community? It cannot escape from answering the question.
The party’s reform is not comprehensive as its members are thinking about the party election. However, without finding out the reason why the Chinese are not supporting the party, the outcome will be the same, regardless of who will become the next party president. – mysinchew.com
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malay Mail Online.
