MCA may return to cabinet, say NGOs

KLSCAH and Dong Zong say the more crucial question is whether the party can reinvent itself.

PETALING JAYA: The exclusion of MCA representatives from the federal cabinet may not be permanent, but the issue is secondary to the question of whether the party can reinvent itself to stay relevant to contemporary politics, according to two NGO leaders.

Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) chief executive officer Tang Ah Chai and Dong Zong deputy president Chow Siew Hon told FMT the second largest BN component party might make its way back to the government soon, although it has been excluded from the new cabinet unveiled on Wednesday.

Tang said MCA’s return to the cabinet might happen as soon as it completes party elections slated for the end of the year.

He said the new leadership could opt to revoke the pledge made by current president Dr Chua Soi Lek on not accepting any government position.

“But the biggest challenge that lies with MCA is they that are without a clear direction,” he added.

“They hold in hand plenty of resources, for example huge party assets, millions of party members and solid grassroots organisations. But after being hit with the political tsunami in 2008, they appear to have no idea what to do.”

Chow also said the Chinese might support MCA’s return to the cabinet if it could show them that it could reinvent itself.

The only two Chinese appointed to the new cabinet are Transparency-International Malaysia chief Paul Low, who is now a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, and Parti Bersatu Sabah’s Mary Yap, Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Learning.

Tang said Malaysian Chinese seemed to have accepted the reality that they lack representation in the cabinet.

“Contrasting with the situation after the 1969 election, when there was a sense of anxiety over the non-appointment of Chinese representative in the cabinet, this time the Chinese community seems okay with it,” he said.

“That is because the younger generations are embracing diversity and multiracial politics. They are looking out for the authorities to avoid using skin colour as the benchmark for policies.

“Besides, there is a perception that MCA failed to perform to a satisfactory level even when they had 10 ministers and deputy ministers before.

“They more or less did Umno’s bidding. So it makes no difference whether this time they are there or not.”

Challenging time for MCA

Tang said the cabinet lineup poses a challenge for Najib in fulfilling his 1Malaysia objective of ensuring the welfare of all Malaysians regardless of racial background.

However, he added, MCA risked being irrelevant if the cabinet succeeded in satisfying Chinese interests.

“The future for MCA is very challenging,” he said.

Chow, commenting on Yap’s appointment, said she might have been chosen in recognition of her background as a school principal.

“But she may be a different person altogether when she becomes a politician,” he said. “This depends on how she discharges her duty.”

He added that Dong Zong would meet her soon to discuss long-standing problems plaguing Chinese education.