Merger may 'kill off' even faster the MCA, SUPP and Gerakan - Jui Meng

VIDEO INSERTED KUALA LUMPUR - Former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad's endorsement of a plan to combine the Barisan Nasional's three Chinese-based parties - MCA, Gerakan and SUPP - has been met with suspicion, with critics saying it only proved that the 3 parties have completely "missed the point".

A merger would not only be ineffective in ridding the public of its long-held perception that MCA, Gerakan and SUPP were mere stooges for Mahathir's Umno party but chances are high, it might even hasten the demise of all 3 parties.

"At the moment all 3 parties are besmirched as far as the community that they are supposed to represent is concerned. The Chinese have given up on all 3 parties. They can combine but that doesn't get rid of the problem," Jui Meng told Malaysia Chronicle.

"You can combine and become one but it becomes an easier target for the Chinese community to say these are the people we don't want. They have gathered all together, now we just concentrate on this new organization that they have formed. It doesn't help them at all."

Umno-mooted merger?

The merger plan was cautiously announced over the weekend in Umno flagship newspaper, Mingguan Malaysia which is the Sunday edition of the allegedly anti-Chinese Utusan daily.

“I together with MCA president Chua Soi Lek and SUPP president Peter Chin have discussed this several times previously. However, the decision can only be made after all the parties have chosen their new leadership, maybe after October," Gerakan acting president Chang Ko Youn had said.

Mahathir in Tuesday's edition of the Utusan newspaper as saying a merger would help to redraw Chinese support for the BN.

Using his own career as an example, the 88-year-old leader said there was no reason to give up on Chinese support, pointing out how he managed to get the Chinese behind in in 1999 even though they had reviled him in 1981 as an "ultra-Malay".

""Penggabungan itu tidak mengapa, kita boleh tengok kerana parti Melayu pun satu sahaja dalam BN. Saya fikir kalau boleh dia bersatu senanglah sikit, kalau tidak, masing-masing tarik sokongan," katanya ketika ditemui pemberita ketika membeli-belah di Pekan Rabu.

"The merger won't be harmful because we can see only a single Malay party in the BN. I think if they can unite, it would be better. If not, they can still individually draw support," Mahathir told reporters.

Diversionary tactic?

Yet to others, the merger plan was another diversionary tactic to appease members and stop them from joining the DAP or PKR - two multi-racial parties in the Opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

"We see this as an attempt to buy time. We don't think the merger will crystallize despite the support from Mahathir and Umno. There are too many complications and even if forced through, it would take time to sort out the legalities and details. Remember, these are not just political parties but MCA, for example, is a huge business entity. I don't think MCA will welcome being carved up for Umno hawks to pick at and get all the juiciest bits," MP for Batu Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.

"Right now, the truth hurts but the Chinese have nothing but scorn for MCA, Gerakan and SUPP. They are joining DAP or PKR and they will only stay if MCA, Gerakan and SUPP leave the BN. But sad to say, these 3 parties - especially under their current leadership - could never do so. So this may be what the merger is really about - to give some hope to their grassroots so as not to abandon them for the Opposition."

The weakly trio

Of the 3 BN parties, perhaps the weakest is Gerakan, which has lost nearly all its seats at both Parliament and state level. Although its president Koh Tsu Koon has already stepped down, there is an obvious talent vacuum in the party and no 'real successor' capable of leading the party forward.

SUPP still has 6 seats in the Sarawak state government although it is questionable if it can keep these in the next general election due to current party chief Peter Chin's inability to quell infighting or come up with programs to revive voter support.

MCA now only has 7 seats at Parliament after suffering its greatest defeat in the May 5 general election. And although president Chua Soi Lek has already expressed his intention to step down, the party suffers the same talent vacuum and lack of leadership problems as Gerakan and SUPP.

The MCA's only redemption is in its huge wealth accumulated through its media and education businesses.

Malaysia Chronicle