Jayum Jawan of Universiti Putra Malaysia said the rift between the traditional foes made it hard for them to cooperate, with MCA receiving only minimal support from the Chinese community.
Speaking to FMT, he said MCA must strengthen its position to make any collaboration with DAP possible.
“For MCA to strengthen itself, it must have a new line-up of leaders that doesn’t include (its current president) Wee Ka Siong,” he said.
“MCA needs new leaders with calibre, who are young, educated and have moderate views. Only then will the Chinese pay attention to the party.”
The Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election on May 11 was called following the death of DAP assemblyman Lee Kee Hiong on March 21.
On April 19, MCA said it would sit out the polls if the unity government’s candidate did not come from BN.
In response, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he would find a way to “persuade” MCA to change its mind.
Zahid also said that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is chairman of Pakatan Harapan (PH), would meet MCA leaders to discuss the party’s position.
MIC president SA Vigneswaran was previously reported as saying his party would also stay on the sidelines. However, Anwar dismissed these reports as inaccurate.
Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said MCA and MIC did not want to be overshadowed by DAP.
He said the BN components were also afraid of appearing weak if PH should win the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.
“They (MIC and MCA) know that they cannot attract non-Malay support in Kuala Kubu Baharu without DAP,” he said.
“This will reinforce the perception that they are weak.”
Meanwhile, Lau Zhe Wei of International Islamic University Malaysia said there was no way for MCA to become relevant unless DAP made a serious mistake that would cause Chinese voters to turn away.
“If that happens, even if the Chinese voters are not in favour of MCA, they could still stage a protest vote,” he said. - FMT
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