TIME FOR MCA TO FACE UP TO REALITY

By Norman Fernandez 

In the 2013, 13th General Election, MCA contested 127 Parliamentary and state seats, out of which it lost a combined total of 108 seats. MCA's failure or rather rejection rate was about 85% !

MCA won a mere 7 parliamentary seats, namely Air Hitam (58% Malays 38% Chinese), Alor Gajah (58% Malays 28% Chinese), Tanjung Malim (53% Malays 27% Chinese), Bentong (45% Malays 44% Chinese), Tanjung Piai (52% Malays 47% Chinese), Tebrau (48% Malays 38% Chinese) and Labis (38% Malays 47% Chinese).

MCA did not do any better in the state assemblies either,  scrapping a meagre 11 seats, namely Titi Tinggi (74% Malay 21% Chinese), Cheka (70% Malay 24% Chinese) Pulai Sebatang (64% Malays 35% Chinese), Kulim (61% Malays 22% Chinese), Klebang (60% Malays 37% Chinese), Bemban (59% Malays 24% Chinese), Gurun (57% Malays 26% Chinese), Damak (56 Malays 34% Chinese) , Chenderiang (36% Malays 31% Chinese and 21% Orang Aslis), Macap (41% Malays  43% Chinese) and Pagoh (39% Malays 44% Chinese).

A simple analysis will show that UMNO and the Malay votes provided MCA with a life-line and prevented a complete obliteration of MCA. In fact, MCA President in Bentong scrapped home with a narrow victory, thanks to the Malay‎ voters while its Deputy President in Air Hitam won in a constituency with an overwhelming Malay majority. One MCA  candidate,  to win had to rely on the Orang Asli voters!

DAP on the other hand,  won virtually all the Chinese majority seats and hauled ‎38 parliamentary seats almost all against MCA.

Thus it  begets the question if it is MCA or DAP that now represents the Chinese.

From the election results it is clear that the Chinese have completely abandoned and rejected MCA and if any MCA representative survives it is on the benevealence of UMNO and the Malays. ‎It is DAP (never mind its denial it is not a Chinese party) in which the Chinese have confidence and the Chinese have entrusted DAP to champion and protect the community's rights.

That being the case is it fair for UMNO and the Malays  to sacrifice Malay majority seats for MCA's survival, when a rejected MCA faces a sure wipe-out when contesting against DAP in Chinese majority constituencies. In fact, MCA is a real risk to Barisan Nasional.

Today, the majority in the Chinese community has or needs very little interaction with the government. The majority of the Chinese send their children to Chinese schools, and then almost all attend private higher institutions or go abroad with many not returning home and it is a fact that the Chinese prefer to work in a Chinese business environment. Thus, the Chinese contact with the government authorities is kept to a minimal and with e-govt transactions available, contact with the government is no longer a necessity.

When Chinese find their rights are impinged or‎ there arise issues and matters of concern for the Chinese community, the Chinese now have faith and trust in the DAP to raise and to sensationalise the concern of the Chinese. More often than not, DAP succeeds. MCA simply is unable to play a vociferous role, since for a start MCA is living on the benevolence of UMNO and cannot react or champion in the same manner as DAP. Thus, MCA has no choice but to resolve any issue in a quiet and hushed up surrounding, while DAP uses every possible way including the social media to raise its profile to show and proof to the Chinese, that it is DAP and not MCA who are the real streetfighters and standing up for the Chinese. DAP can rightly grandstand, showboat and gloat that MCA is impotent cannot stand up for the Chinese. For the Chinese, DAP is the real "Kapitan Cina".

If there was one courageous decision of MCA in the 2013 General Election, it was the decision of the then MCA President to give up the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat and loan it to UMNO, for MCA recognised that at the time, no force on earth can defeat DAP's Lim Kit Siang. In the end, UMNO pitted the sitting Johor Menteri Besar Dato Seri Ghani Othman against Lim Kit Siang and it turned out to be Dato Seri Ghani Othman's Waterloo when Lim Kit Siang brushed aside the challenge and cruised home to a comfortable victory, all thanks to the solid Chinese votes. Clearly MCA had recognised earlier on that it would be sucidical for MCA to mount a challenge against Lim Kit Siang particularly with the Chinese wrath and raging anger against MCA.

So, it is time for MCA to admit that it no longer has the support of the Chinese. Just watch MCA leaders regularly visiting Chinese villagers and touching base with the the "saluran satu" Chinese voters. In contrast, DAP not only now has a strangehold of the Chinese voters but have been able to easily reach out to the young Chinese and even the Chinese teenagers, though not able to register as voters now, come election in 2017/2018 they will be able to vote. The recent Bersih rally is ample proof.  DAP's voter-bank is overflowing with support while MCA can only place their hopes on the already-converted dwindling pensioners.

Looking at the state of affairs, in 2008 MCA was in critical condition while in the aftermath of 2013 MCA is on a life support machine. Come 2017/2018 it is almost certain that the MCA's life support machine will be switched off .

Thus, it is better that MCA face up to reality and give up any hope of doing any better than in 2013 and  MCA must recognise that it has absolutely no chance against the DAP juggernaut. Surely, MCA cannot still claim that it represents the Chinese when the Chinese have rejected MCA. If any, MCA now survives with the benevealance of UMNO and the Malays‎. That is the naked truth MCA must face up and admit. UMNO and the Malays are beginning to realise that.

MCA can still play a role. Perhaps MCA should not contest in the next general election but instead consider accepting positions in the Senate. At least it is face-saving for MCA, and in the Senate, it can still raise the issues pertaining to the Chinese community. Of cause,  MCA must own up and acknowledge that it is DAP and not MCA  that is now the guardian and protector of the Chinese.

Norman Fernandez