Umno and MCA should stop the blame game and take collective responsibility for defeat

PETALING JAYA: Umno and MCA should stop the blame game and instead learn to take collective responsibility for the 14th general elections results, said MCA publicity bureau chairman Datuk Chai Kim Sen (pic).

He said both parties had contested under the same Barisan Nasional banner in GE14 and it was clear that voters have rejected the coalition.

“We contested side-by-side under the same Barisan flag, and we lost as one (team).

“Now, we shall all bear the responsibilities together. If we, instead, choose to redirect the blame to everyone but ourselves, it would be clear that we have learned nothing from our defeat,” he said in a statement on Sunday (June 3).

Dr Wee was reported to have said that, “Our party is now our priority and not the coalition like before."

“There is no more political baggage. In the past there was no room to say ‘no’ or you would be deemed as going against the coalition’s whip.”

Dr Wee, who is the former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said that the party, bound by the Barisan Nasional spirit, seldom spoke openly on what transpired in the Cabinet meetings.

This unfortunately, was perceived by some parties that MCA had not been able to speak up for them or do anything for them.

Dr Wee said the perception had been compounded by negative statements on MCA and the Chinese community made by other Barisan leaders.

Annuar then responded that it was time for Umno to stop “carrying” its "paralysed" Barisan partner and save itself from further defeat.

Chai expressed regret that Annuar had not only overreacted to Dr Wee’s comment, but also presented his rebuttal in “a most unsightly manner, debasing MCA in the process.”

“This is precisely the type of behaviour that became the impetus of Barisan’s downfall,” he said.

He said whether or not Umno chooses to reform, it does not change the fact that MCA has already set in motion a series of self-examinations and internal reformations.

“The results in GE14 have told us clear and simple, that the voters yearn for an advanced and democratic Malaysia, governed fairly and with integrity — exactly what MCA wants to stand for.

“MCA will continue honouring its role to be a constructive and effective opposition, to realise and uphold the values our countrymen hold dear.

"Naturally, we also hope that Umno can move forward, into a similar direction,” added Chai.