MCA implodes: 30% of members to abandon party by GE-13

TWO time bombs have exploded in the MCA in the past two days but the mainstream media, especially MCA’s mouthpiece, The Star, has down played the news.

About 1,000 MCA members from Penang and Johor have resigned en bloc and they cite the loss of confidence in the party leadership as their reason for quitting.

The resignations are only the tip of the iceberg and they signal the beginning of the implosion widely predicted for Barisan Nasional’s second largest component party.

Loss of faith in Soi Lek

According to a few of those who quit but did not want to be named, more MCA members nationwide are expected to quit in the run-up to the next general election.

The mainstream media are down playing the news because it is a major blow for the MCA and BN’s preparations for the general election widely expected to be called by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in February or March.

Those who quit say they had lost confidence in the MCA leadership because it is led by a scandal-tainted and immoral president, Dr Chua Soi Lek.

“Whenever he speaks on any issue, it backfires and is a laughing stock of the people or grassroots. This is because Chua is in no position to talk about issues on morality and integrity.

“We cannot continue to be associated with such a leader and his cronies who are only looking after their own interest and positions,” said a former MCA member who is known to this writer.

30% of members to abandon party by polling day

Citing recent events and issues, the former member said: “It is embarrassing to MCA for Chua to talk about freedom of the press and freedom of speech.

“What is he talking about when the first thing he (Chua) did when he won the presidency by fluke was to place The Star directly under the control of the party.

“The paper is now under the overall control of a panel that includes his son (Tee Yong) as a key member. He also appointed his son in government positions.

“The MCA leadership is now led by a man who is morally tainted and one who practices nepotism and cronyism to turn the party into his family’s empire,” he added.

Another former member added: “Just watch how MCA implodes in the run-up to the 13th General Election. At least 30 per cent of its members will eventually abandon the party by polling day.”

Soi Lek-Donald Lim spat

In another development, party insiders say Selangor MCA is in shambles following a fallout between Chua and state MCA chief Donald Lim Siang Chai.

As the state chief, Lim does not even have the say to decide which seat to contest.

Lim is said to be eyeing the Selayang parliamentary seat but Chua already has someone else in mind – possibly a woman candidate.

What is telling is that Lim does not even have the confidence to try and wrest back his former seat - PJ Selatan – where he was beaten by PKR’s Hee Loy Sian by 5,706 votes in 2008.

Party insiders say the backdoor Deputy Finance Minister Senator is now desperate and is manoeuvring to get what he wants.

The insiders say it would be most interesting to see how severely Selangor MCA would be split by the Chua-Lim tussle for control of the state.

Jackson Ng is a retired journalist