MCA’s odds better with BN, analysts say

 

MCA, a component party of Barisan Nasional, won two seats at the last general election.

PETALING JAYA: MCA would have better prospects remaining with Barisan Nasional (BN) than working with Gerakan, analysts say after the Chinese-based party declared it was ready to go solo in the next general election.

Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said that with BN, MCA would automatically be contesting Chinese-majority seats as its allies Umno and MIC would be vying for the Malay and Indian-majority constituencies.

“If it teamed up with Gerakan, it would have to compete for the remaining Chinese votes,” he told FMT, adding that DAP was the party of choice for 80% to 90% of the Chinese electorate.

In the last general election, MCA won only two seats while the Gerakan candidates lost all of their deposits.

MCA president Wee Ka Siong recently said that his party would not hesitate to go solo if Umno remained adamant about working with DAP at the next nationwide polls.

Wee had been commenting on Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s call for the unity government to be “defended” at the next general election. He also said that MCA would not do so.

Perikatan Nasional components have since said they would welcome MCA into their fold. Bersatu information chief Razali Idris, for instance, said Gerakan and MCA would make a formidable team to wrest the non-Malay seats from DAP, especially in Chinese-majority areas.

But Lau Zhe Wei of International Islamic University Malaysia said it would have “no significant impact” if MCA joined the opposition pact and worked with Gerakan.

He also said MCA would struggle initially if it went solo.

“But in the long run, if voters see MCA as a neutral party, it could become a third force. Then maybe there’s a chance the party could be revived.”

Jayum Jawan of Universiti Putra Malaysia agreed on the prospects of an MCA-Gerakan alliance.

“The current leadership has no calibre, nor do they have a clear direction,” he said.

He said that Gerakan, without the likes of former presidents Lim Keng Yaik and Koh Tsu Koon, lacked the aura and pull that would help revive the party.

“Similarly, for MCA, its relevance within the Chinese community is long gone.” - FMT