Chinese-based parties in merger talks

Donald Lim is confident BN will have only one Chinese party when GE14 comes around.

KUALA LUMPUR: Chances are good that the Chinese-based parties in Barisan Nasional will merge into one before the 14th general election, according to MCA vice president Donald Lim.

He told FMT in an interview that MCA was already engaged in informal talks with the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and Gerakan.

He indicated, however, that the discussions with Gerakan would have to be pursued more intensely.

“We are getting feedback from SUPP and Gerakan,” he said. “At the moment, SUPP has been really positive about the idea. We will pursue our discussion with Gerakan after our party election.”

The MCA election will be held on Dec 21.

Lim said the talks with Gerakan would be more meaningful if they were held with a MCA leadership with a new three-year mandate.

He said the merger talks came about from increased awareness among the parties involved that they must now operate within the context of new political realities.

“Race based politics are not so relevant nowadays,” he said. “People are now colour blind and this is the reality politicians have to face.

“BN must go multiracial and has to swing down into smaller numbers so it can work more effectively. A party with 13 separate components cannot work well because we need to consult 13 heads. You lose a lot of time. And time is money,” he said.