MCA committed to BN but ready to forge own path if policies harm public

 

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA will remain in Barisan Nasional for the current term but is prepared to chart its own path if the coalition continues to back policies and political arrangements that hurt the people or undermine its founding spirit, says party president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

In his speech, Dr Wee said MCA’s elected representatives had a duty to honour the mandate they received under the Barisan banner, even as questions were raised about the party’s future direction.

“Our MPs and state assemblymen in certain states received their mandate from the people under the Barisan banner. We must fulfil our responsibilities to Barisan and to the people.

“As a matter of political principle, MCA must at least complete the current term. We cannot allow the public to see MCA as a party that breaks its promises,” he said at the 3rd General Assembly of the 30th MCA Central Delegates here on Sunday (Dec 7).

At the same time, he warned that the Unity Government had introduced “too many policies that hurt the people”, creating resentment and putting Barisan at risk.

“If Barisan worries too much about protecting the image of the Unity Government and fails to strengthen its own organisation, we will eventually be dragged down,” he said.

Dr Wee cited the proposed Urban Renewal Bill as one such policy, saying its contents failed to protect property rights.

“It violates human rights and fails to protect the property rights of ordinary citizens.

“MCA and Barisan opposed it from day one. Yet the public still blames Barisan, simply because we are part of the Unity Government,” he said.

He said MCA would oppose the Bill “to the very end” and urged Umno to stand firm on its 14-point position.

“If Umno supports this Bill, I can boldly predict that this will be the final straw that breaks Barisan Nasional — and even Umno itself,” he said.

Dr Wee also criticised the Health Ministry’s proposed Rakan KKM scheme, which he said would effectively give priority to those who can afford higher fees at public hospitals.

“Those who can afford to pay higher medical fees will get priority access to consultations and surgeries, while the lower-income groups who cannot pay will be forced to wait.

“When public healthcare starts determining treatment based on how much money you have, can the people accept this? This is essentially the commercialisation of government hospitals,” he said.

He questioned the claim that the programme would rely on “surplus” resources.

“Which government hospital in Malaysia is not overcrowded or overwhelmed with patients? How can there possibly be such a thing as ‘excess medical resources’?” he asked.

Dr Wee added that the Budget 2026 allocation of RM46.5bil for the Health Ministry - only RM1.2bil more than in 2025 - was not enough to address staff and equipment shortages, warning that Rakan KKM could trigger “widespread public dissatisfaction” if implemented.

On the political front, Dr Wee also took aim at DAP and Pakatan Harapan for backtracking on many issues since coming into power.

“Since coming into power, DAP and Pakatan Harapan have made U-turns on countless issues, abandoning promise after promise. Worse still, they have not only betrayed the people, but they have even betrayed their own principles,” he said.

He said feedback from MCA divisional meetings and state assemblies showed a clear grassroots sentiment in favour of cooperation with DAP.

“If DAP insists on maintaining its usual political culture and continues taking positions that undermine MCA’s core interests, then it will be extremely difficult for MCA to build any form of cooperation with them in the days ahead,” he said.

Dr Wee added that if Barisan allies continued working with DAP and Pakatan in the next general election, it would mean the “Barisan spirit” had “completely vanished”.

“In that case, we can only say, ‘Good luck! MCA has its own path’,” he said, reiterating that “MCA’s bottom line is crystal clear — we refuse to work with DAP”. - Star