MCA starts to gear up for snap polls expected in 2011

SEREMBAN, Sept 26 — MCA has started warming up its engine for a possible snap general election in 2011 by launching a series of closed door meet-ups for grassroots leaders and members.

The MCA Negeri Sembilan organised a dinner function Friday night for the state party leaders and members titled ‘Committed to Win’ under its motivation campaign.

“We expect general elections to be held next year, so preparations must be made much earlier,” MCA Wanita vice chairman Senator Heng Seai Kie told The Malaysian Insider.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is reportedly weighing whether to call for a general election within the next six months, so that he may secure a fresh mandate to press forward with political and economic reforms.

A stronger economy has fuelled speculation that he might call for snap polls by the first half of 2011 although an Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) report early this month dismissed such talk, saying the results of recent by-elections suggest that the electorate has become much more volatile, especially with non-Malay voters.

The Malaysian Insider understands that Umno warlords and key aides have told Najib to delay any idea of snap polls, saying he should not assume his personal popularity translates to greater acceptance of his party among the people.

“We have to start working for the next general election. But before we start to work, we must boost morale. We are committed to win back the lost seats,” said Heng.

The MCA was wiped out by the DAP in Negeri Sembilan during Election 2008 that saw the Chinese party lose both its parliamentary seats and all the state seats it contested except in Chennah.

The MCA also suffered a heavy defeat in the historic general election — which robbed the Barisan Nasional (BN) its customary two-thirds majority — when it won only 15 out of 40 parliamentary seats contested and capturing just 31 out of 91 seats it vied for.

Heng pointed out that the main reason behind the state party dinner function was to motivate MCA members to get their act together.

“This is a political motivation dinner. We want to motivate all comrades to work full force to win back the constituency,” said the Women, Family and Community Development deputy minister.

MCA Rembau division chief Datuk Goh Siow Huat echoed Heng’s views and said that the primary purpose of the dinner was to exhort party members to snag back the seats they had lost.

“The main purpose is to motivate members to capture back the lost seats,” said Goh.

“We must prepare early. We can’t wait till last minute,” he cautioned.

Goh noted that it was necessary for the party to secure victories to regain its political authority that had been eroded through its crushing defeat in Election 2008.

“We must make sure that our constituency must win. Then when we say something, we have power,” he said.

Although Negeri Sembilan MCA state chairman Senator Datuk Dr Yeow Chai Thiam was evasive about the idea of early elections, he said that the main purpose of the dinner was to stress the importance of keeping close ties with the electorate.

“We want to prepare the grassroots to be close to the voters and that they are always in tip top spirit,” said Yeow.

“If (the general election) is early, we are prepared. If it is late, we are also prepared. We always want to be prepared for elections,” he added.

Motivational dinners are not the only weapons MCA has in its arsenal to spur party members in their battle to regain Chinese ground.

“Besides dinners, we will also have motivation camps organised by the headquarters throughout different states,” said Heng.

The MCA publicity bureau chief also expressed her belief that there may be more similar dinners organised by other states in the future.