Voters even smarter now, they want action: CAN 'ALL-TALK' LIOW ACT?

Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai may be the forerunner in the three-man race to be MCA president at its polls on December 21 but it might turn out to be a hollow victory. The Chinese party is expected to slide further following its dismal performance in the May general election, say analysts.

Analysts are pessimistic that the founding member of the ruling Barisan Nasional can reform and rejuvenate itself given that it is the same leaders who are throwing their hats into the ring.

Deputy president Liow, vice-president Gan Ping Sieu and former president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat are vying for the top post.

Incumbent president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek is not defending his post.

The analysts noted that as long as the party continued to be rejected by voters and seen as being subservient to an increasingly hardline Umno, MCA’s fortunes are unlikely to change.

No fresh factors

Centre for Policy Initiative director Dr Lim Teck Ghee said none of the three candidates was a fresh face. All three are from a party that was decisively rejected in the last two general elections.

“I do not think they have any fresh ideas or contributions to make which can revive the MCA's standing in Barisan,” he said.

Liow, who is the first person to announce his candidacy in early October, has unveiled a nine-point manifesto to reverse the party’s fortunes.

Among others, it included a reaffirmation of the party’s standing and power in BN, reform the party, upgrade its campaign machinery and groom younger talents for a smoother leadership succession.

“We need to show we have a strong voice in the Government and can speak up for the Chinese community and resolve issues effectively,” Liow was quoted as saying in “The Star” recently.

Walk the talk not just talk

However, political analyst Khoo Kay Peng was sceptical about Liow’s manifesto, saying that voters were no longer looking for leaders to “speak up”.

The party, he said, should have adopted such a stand before the 2008 general election, where its inability to check Umno, saw MCA winning only 15 federal and 32 state seats.

In GE13, the party fared worse, ending up with only seven parliamentary and 11 state seats.

“Post-GE13, people are no longer looking for leaders who speak up and throw statements here and there while the policies and governance remain unchanged.”

As long as Umno is keen to protect its own voter base – to the detriment of other component partners – it will be tough for MCA to revive itself.

“The partnership in BN exists in name only,” said Khoo, adding that the revival of MCA was not dependent on the popularity of party leaders but on acceptance of voters at seats where the party was contesting.

Dying party

In a harsh assessment, Lim said the party was clearly “dying”, but it was still useful to Umno, although he did not elaborate on this point.

“Even if the party's supporters dwindle to the thousands, there will be opportunistic leaders who will claim that they can speak up for Chinese Malaysians.

"The reality is that they are only scavenging for perks and rewards for themselves,” he said of an MCA that is sitting on RM2 billion worth of assets and is hoping to rejoin the Cabinet.

MCA decided not to accept any ministerial posts because of its poor showing in the last general election.

The decision was reinforced at its extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on October 20, although members overturned an earlier decision not to take up posts at state and local levels.

To be a force to be reckoned with again, MCA need to stand up to Umno and push that the rights of other Malaysians, be it socio-economic or political, be given equal importance.

But Lim is sceptical that this would happen.

“It’s an impossible dream given their past track record.”

However, veteran leader Datuk Yap Pian Hon is optimistic, but qualified that it all depends on the 2,380 central delegates.

“Central delegates need to make a decision based on what’s best for the party if they want to see the party continue.”

He said they needed to scrutinise not only the candidates’ manifestos, but also their past pledges and track record. - TMI