Tensions flared at the MCA annual general meeting earlier today when a delegate gave party president Wee Ka Siong and other leaders an earful over the party's state of decline.
Tan Kai Yong said MCA's habit of evading the issues concerning the Chinese community has caused the Chinese-based party to lose support to the point that it is now at death's door.
The Puchong division member highlighted that MCA has not only lost the support of the Chinese community but also failed to win votes from other races.
"Since the 2008 general election, MCA has been declining, barely alive," Tan (above) said.
This is partly because to win votes from other races, MCA had hurt the feelings of the Chinese or said things that threatened their rights, he elaborated.
"Fearing losing the votes of other ethnic groups, MCA has four methods to deal with issues - internal negotiation, downplaying, evasion, and 'siam' (dodge in Hokkien)," the delegate said.
Tan urged MCA to reform and demonstrate that the party is willing to fight for the rights of the Chinese community.
"I don't want our children or grandchildren to only see MCA in the National Museum.
"MCA cannot fail in our generation, so I earnestly request comrades to fully support the central leadership in pushing for internal reforms," he said.
Sitting out polls
Tan also lamented that MCA has become a "party that participates in politics but not in elections".
He said that Selangor MCA under the leadership of Ng Chok Sin, who passed away on Aug 27, was gearing up for the state election.
"This might have been his last battle, wanting to lead us into a final battle, to burn our bridges, to fight to the last bullet."
However, he said Ng's wishes were not fulfilled after the party's top leadership decided to give the state elections a miss despite the Selangor chapter grassroots already preparing to face the enemy.
"Before we are exterminated by another party, we are already waving the white flag, meaning the efforts of the Selangor grassroots have gone down the drain.
"Comrades, if MCA continues to avoid a fight in the next general election, claiming to be keeping a low profile, we might as well go home and watch TV.
"Which channel? Watch 'RTM' because by then our situation will also be 'RTM - rehat tunggu mati’ (waiting for death)," Tan added.
‘Mathematical geniuses’
In a sarcastic tone, Tan said that MCA has numerous talents, especially in mathematics.
The "mathematical geniuses", he said, claimed that MCA's election performance improved by 100 percent during the 15th general election, when it won two Parliament seats instead of one like in 2018.
"But these 'geniuses' only told half of the truth, not the other half because before the dissolution of the last Parliament, MCA already had two parliamentary seats. Where is the progress? Where is the 100 percent? This is absurd.
"Moreover, the 'geniuses' also didn't mention that despite MCA's claim of having one million members, out of the 222 parliamentary seats, we only won two, which is less than one percent. How embarrassing," he added.
No four-method practice
In an immediate response, Wee sternly refuted the criticisms.
"MCA has never used the four methods. We have never evaded any issues, particularly the major issues concerning our principles."
Wee claimed that it's precisely because MCA stood firm on its stance on important issues that its former president Liow Tiong Lai lost the Malay votes and was eventually defeated in Bentong in GE14.
Wee also said it was a different party that “siam” on issues, making veiled references to DAP.
"In our dictionary, you won't find the words 'internal negotiation, downplaying, evasion, and siam'.
"Perhaps, today, in the parties of those in power, when you bring up the promise of reducing fuel prices, you can use the four methods that you mentioned.
"When you ask them if they acknowledge the (UEC) exams, they still use those four methods."
He also criticised the "deputy agriculture and food security minister" - referring to DAP's Chan Foong Hin - for downplaying the issue of rising pork prices.
"Now, if you ask the leader of this party, he will speak to you in Siamese and say 'siam'. This is the best example," the MCA president said. - Mkini
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