KUALA LUMPUR: MCA’s defeat in Sabah boils down to one core weakness – its election machinery on the ground was simply not ready, says party president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
While the party accepts the outcome of the state polls, Dr Wee said it must also face the hard reality behind its failure to win a single seat.
“In this Sabah state election, we did not win any seats, but we respect the voters’ decision. At the same time, I must admit that in the past two Sabah elections, MCA has failed to make any breakthrough.
“We must face the most critical reason for this: MCA’s local organisations were not adequately prepared,” he said.
MCA contested two seats under the Barisan Nasional (BN) flag in the Sabah state election held on Nov 29, 2025. The party fielded Datuk Chin Kim Hiung in Karamunting and Kevin Lee Sip Kim in Tanjong Kapor.
Citing the MCA's Batu Sapi division as an example, Dr Wee noted that the Karamunting state seat falls under this division, which had been suspended due to internal disputes.
“Both leaders and members left. As Sabah MCA was determined to contest, once the state assembly was dissolved, we had no choice but to field the Libaran division chairman, Chin, at the last minute.
“The campaign team also had to rely heavily on external assistance,” he said in his address at the MCA 30th Central Delegates 3rd General Assembly on Sunday (Dec 7).
A similar situation unfolded in Kudat, he added, where the Tanjong Kapor division, despite being more than 30 years old with over 1,300 members, had only slightly more than 200 who were genuinely active.
“Very few locals had real campaign experience. This division, too, had to depend on support from other Sabah divisions and MCA comrades from Peninsular Malaysia,” he said.
Dr Wee likened the situation to “entering a battlefield where our two MCA candidates were still scrambling to find soldiers and ammunition,” leaving the party fighting an uphill battle from beginning to end.
He stressed that the problems in Karamunting and Tanjong Kapor were not isolated, and raised doubts about whether other divisions were any better prepared for a snap election.
“Do we already have quality candidates who have begun working the ground? If the state assembly or Parliament were dissolved tomorrow, would we be able to activate our campaign machinery immediately?
“I believe everyone already knows the answer in their hearts,” he said.
Dr Wee said MCA must now prioritise rebuilding its grassroots strength and strengthening its ability to mobilise supporters.
He pointed out that the party’s traditional reliance on ties with local Chinese associations was no longer sufficient to reach today’s broader and more diverse electorate.
“Candidates and divisions must be able to engage deeply with the community and build direct relationships with the people, so that they see you, know you and connect with you firsthand, rather than learning about MCA only through associations,” he said.
He also reminded MCA leaders that turning up at functions and banquets was no longer enough to secure support.
“Candidates must build personal value among voters. The people want to know what you have done for them and what you have spoken up about.
“Even if individuals do not directly benefit, they must still be able to see your efforts and feel your sincerity,” he said.
