`


THERE IS NO GOD EXCEPT ALLAH
read:
MALAYSIA Tanah Tumpah Darahku

LOVE MALAYSIA!!!


 


Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Chinese see MCA, Gerakan clinging to Umno's coat-tails despite bullying

Chinese see MCA, Gerakan clinging to Umno's coat-tails despite bullying

The jury is back. And the verdict is that MCA and Gerakan will hang onto the BN, even if it gets kicked in the face each day by bully-boss UMNO. The reason is simple, say pundits.

“Maybe they will suffer huge losses and let’s say even if they win only one seat, they would still cling on to BN and hope to be put in the ministerial position through the back door (Senatorship appointments),” PKR leader Voon Shaik Ni told Malaysia Chronicle.

Indeed, her simple comments summed up the cynicism in the Chinese community for the two parties, whom many believe will become extinct and phased out by the people.

We have seen it happen before

In Sarawak, the Chinese there saw it happening to SUPP. They issued the same warnings, the same scoldings but president George Chan just could not make the break with long-time ally Taib Mahmud, the Sarawak Chief Minister.

IN Kuala Lumpur, Gerakan chief Koh Tsu Koon spoke of being the 'opposition' within the BN in order to bring about change. That was in 2008 and since then, the once high-flying ex-Penang chief minister has lost even more respect. He has been called all sorts of names to his face including political coward by his own party mates.

As for the scandal-tainted Chua Soi Lek, he seems to have been pushed into a world of his own by the pressure piled on by UMNO. Most Chinese are so upset with him, they just shake their heads in exasperation at the mention of his name.

PKR's Voon suggested that the best way forward was for the MCA and Gerakan to get out of BN and join the Pakatan Rakyat. However, she stressed she was not sure whether Pakatan would accept the leaders, who were tainted by corruption scandals. However, she was confident the door would be open to ordinary members and mid-level leaders on the basis that they were sincere and would fight for the Pakatan's struggle of a better Malaysia.

Rich parties

However other Chinese community leaders said the best way out was for Gerakan and MCA to quit and stay independent.

"Of cource, Pakatan leaders would say such things. But seriously, don't join Pakatan. They will surely squeeze MCA and Gerakan too. Whatever it is, the best is alway to join from a position of strength. Not now, when nobody wants them. But at least MCA is rich. Gerakan, I think not too bad either. Definitely, both are still richer than DAPor PKR," CS Chong, a KL banker, told Malaysia Chronicle.

"Both MCA and Gerakan can afford to sit it out. But they have to quit BN to show the people they are sincere. The current leaders Soi Lek and Tsu Koon won't do it. Neither will their deputies. MCA and Gerakan grassroots must revolt or just quit the party because until the leaders make the move to break away from BN, they are on a sinking ship."

Dump MCA trial balloon shocker

The brouhaha broke out after federal Cabinet minister Nazri Aziz was reported to have invited DAP to join BN to replace the MCA. The shocking news raised a gasp across the nation, especially amongst the Chinese community. While Nazri, a senior UMNO leader and regarded as Prime Minister Najib Razak's spokesman, has since insisted he was misquoted, the writing on the wall is clear. Nazri has set off a trial balloon.

The implications are wide. Malaysians may be looking at the disintegration of the BN as the entry of the DAP would surely force the ouster of the MCA. Another possibility, and perhaps the more likely, is the start of initial negotiations for a unity government.

But whichever the scenario, the future for MCA and Gerakan looks bleak. At the end of the day, it is all about how many seats they can win, and at the moment, few give the two parties much chance of winning any.

"I think the BN know they are going nowhere so they wanted to soften the blow to show to the people that they can be accommodative for the sake of the rakyat. It’s to win the fence-sitters over. The people are too smart to see through their tricks," Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How told Malaysia Chronicle.

Join forces and build again from there

See believes it is impossible that a unity government can be forged as that would mean the Pakatan would have to close an eye to UMNO's corruption. To an extent, Pakatan's own insistence on standing on the moral high ground has made the chase for Putrajaya even tougher. In other words, the twain could never meet, and MCA and Gerakan would still have to confront their own problems before they could recover.

“It’s the same with SUPP. They are now left alone like an unwanted step-child,” said See.

With the general election looming near, See expects BN's three predominant Chinese parties, MCA, Gerakan and SUPP to wiped out. “Even if they change the presidents, it would be like new wine in an old bottle. I think the ideal thing for them is to get out now and join force as Independents and try to start from there,” he suggested.

Who would dare to be UMNO's friend

A grocery shop owner who wanted to give his name as Lee said even an "uneducated man" could see through the BN's ploy of trying to make friends with the minority groups after a series of counter-productive anti-Chinese, anti-Indian and anti-Christian bashing.

"They say in politics, there are no permanent enemies. But in the case of UMNO, who would dare to be their friends. If the DAP joins them, I will stop voting,” he told Malaysia Chronicle.

Lee referred to all the BN Chinese presidents as lame ducks. “They bring shame to the Chinese people. There is no more honour from them. When the extremists hurt the feelings of the Chinese, they act as if they cannot hear. There is just silence. And when there is corruption, they want to dip their fingers into the pie too. This kind of leaders should be rejected once and for all. Let them all lose their seats and the parties die a natural death. It is the way nature cleanses itself,” he said.

A banker, Tomek Gadang thinks UMNO has been playing big brother for too long and has no regards for their coalition partberss. “Even MIC is being manipulated by them. These coalition parties are like puppets and UMNO appears to be desperate. Desperate people can do anything to stay on in power, even lowering their pride to invite the Pakatan over. Never for one minute did I think that the Pakatan will accept their invitation. Too much water has flowed under the bridge,’ he told Malaysia Chronicle.

Tomek maintained that it did not matter if the BN coalition parties MCA, Gerakan and MIC survived or not after the general election. “I am hoping for the Pakatan to take over as government. It’s high time before the country takes a turn for the worst,” he added.

- Malaysia Chronicle

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.