MIC and MCA in ICU?

Political analysts have likened the two parties as being treated in the intensive care unit, as the Umno, led Barisan National, has washed its hands off the two component parties.

PETALING JAYA:  MCA and MIC will see the worst before both the Barisan Nasional component parties see better days.

Political analyst Khoo Kay Peng said MCA and MIC will go through tough times in the near future and may even split into several political groups if the current political trend in these parties continue.

“I believe that there is a great possibility that these parties may even split with factions forming new and alternative political parties,” Khoo told FMT when contacted.

He was asked to comment on the current state of affairs in the two parties.

MCA will be holding its annual general assembly next week, which will see elections of its national office bearers. The party is besieged by factions wanting to grab power and everything that goes with it.

MIC on the other hand concluded its elections two weeks ago, but leaders and members alike have questioned the election results and are planning to call for a protest in front of the party headquarters soon.

Both MCA and MIC are steeped with internal problems and infighting due to their respective leaders having created factions within the party in a bid to maintain control over their leadership positions.

Following party polls held on Nov 30 in Malacca, certain quarters in the MIC have voiced out their dissatisfaction and are calling for a re-election due to alleged irregularities.

It was alleged there were disparities found between the number of votes cast and ballots counted. According to one MIC veteran member, till to date, the ballots and documents from the polls have still not been presented to MIC headquarters.

While in MCA, the party’s ongoing infighting and its inability to bring about an equal distribution of political, economical and social opportunities for the Chinese community has resulted in their downfall.

Khoo is of the opinion that it would be immaterial as to who wins the MCA president post at the elections next week as it would not make a difference for the party.

The MCA elections will see a three sided battle between Liow Tiong Lai, Gan Ping Siew and Ong Tee Keat in a race for the MCA president’s seat.

“There is no way the parties will win back the trust of the Indian and Chinese communities respectively as they have done enough damage to spoil their parties names.

“I believe they (the parties) will split and form new parties in order to convince the government that their respective new parties can win back the trust of the respective communities.

“MIC and MCA are dead, the BN government have ‘washed their hands’ off them.

“Umno now is only focusing on Bumiputra votes and are not bothered about Indian and Chinese votes as it will not affect them in the next General Election,” Khoo said.

Meanwhile James Chin, a political analyst from Monash University Malaysian campus, said that MIC and MCA have become Umno’s ‘puppets’.

“MIC and MCA no longer have any power in the BN government and they don’t represent their communities anymore,” James said.

“The party leaders are just fighting among themselves to secure their positions and not for the community.”

“I do not believe that the parties will split. The leaders can make good money by holding top positions in the government.

“But, I do believe that there is no way the Indians and the Chinese are going to go back to MIC and MCA,” opined James.