KUALA LUMPUR: MCA Youth is proposing for the party to withdraw from the unity government if key concerns involving education, extremism and equal treatment for all communities are not addressed.
The wing's chief Ling Tian Soon said of particular concern were issues such as Chinese primary school funding, treatment of top STPM scorers in university admissions and a perceived rise of extremism.
"If this government still cannot ensure that Chinese primary schools receive their rightful annual allocations; If this government continues to treat high-achieving STPM students unfairly; if this government continues to allow extremism to grow; and if this government cannot safeguard fair and equal treatment for all races under the Federal Constitution – then MCA Youth proposes that the party withdraw from the unity government," he said in his speech at the MCA Youth 26th Central Delegates 3rd General Assembly here on Saturday (Dec 6).
At a press conference later, Ling said that this was MCA Youth's position and a conditional proposal to the party leadership, arising from discussions at the wing's central committee meeting on Friday (Dec 5).
Ling said the wing recognised that the unity government was formed in accordance with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's decree after the last general election and MCA respects that decision.
"However, as events developed and policies implemented, there are areas that are not satisfactory."
"If this government cannot resolve these problems and if it cannot ensure that all communities are treated fairly under the Federal Constitution, then we will put forward this suggestion to the party," he said.
When asked, MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said the party would continue to monitor public sentiment and respond in line with its principles and founding spirit.
"MCA's 'party character', as laid out by founding president Tun Tan Cheng Lock, was rooted in having clear principles and a firm moral bottom line.
Dr Mah said the recent Sabah polls shows that voters are deeply unhappy and all political parties had to take that message seriously.
"It is time we look into and carry out an in-depth study to find out exactly what people are unhappy about," he said.
He pointed to education problems, economic pressures, the cost of living and daily hardship as likely reasons, especially in Chinese-majority areas.
"These are some of the aspects that they based their decision on," he said, noting that DAP lost all six seats it previously held and was defeated in all eight seats it contested in Chinese areas in Sabah.
Dr Mah added that political parties had to "live up to and face" these problems instead of ignoring the underlying causes.
Earlier in his speech, Ling said young voters were increasingly focused on which parties and leaders could genuinely improve their lives, rather than on slogans or emotional appeals.
He said there concerns now centred on employment, the economy, housing, education, technology and integrity, and pledged that MCA Youth would continue to speak up on these issues while pressing the government to address long-standing grievances.
