KUALA LUMPUR: MCA will honour its mandate to remain in Barisan Nasional until the end of the current term, but it will not hesitate to chart its own path if it finds that policies by the unity government harm the public or undermine the party’s core values, says MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
He said MCA’s elected representatives have a duty to the voters who elected them under the Barisan banner, even as debates swirl over the party’s long-term political future.
“Our MPs and state assemblymen in certain states received their mandate from the people under the Barisan banner. We must fulfil our responsibilities to both Barisan and the people.
“As a matter of political principle, MCA must at least complete the current term. We cannot allow the public to see MCA as a party that breaks its promises,” Dr Wee said in his speech at the third general assembly of the 30th MCA central delegates yesterday.
In its resolutions, MCA also reaffirmed its stance of refusing to cooperate with DAP in the next general election, warning that any Barisan component party that works with DAP would signal that “the Barisan spirit has effectively ceased to exist”, and MCA would then chart a new direction on its own.
The party further resolved to contest the coming general and state elections and “exert its utmost efforts” to win back the people’s trust and mandate.
Dr Wee noted that the unity government had introduced “too many policies that hurt the people”, creating resentment and putting Barisan at risk.
“If Barisan worries too much about protecting the image of the unity government and fails to strengthen its own organisation, we will eventually be dragged down,” he said.
He cited the Urban Renewal Bill, which he said failed to protect property rights, and the Rakan KKM scheme, which prioritises those who can pay higher fees at public hospitals, as examples of policies that cause public unease.
On the political front, Dr Wee criticised DAP and Pakatan Harapan for backtracking on many issues since taking office.
He reiterated that MCA’s bottom line is crystal clear: “We refuse to work with DAP.”
Feedback from divisional and state assemblies, he said, consistently showed a grassroots view that any future cooperation with DAP would be “extremely difficult” if the party continued taking positions seen as undermining MCA’s core interests.
He added that if Barisan allies chose to continue working with DAP and Pakatan in the next general election, it would signal that the “Barisan spirit” had “completely vanished”.
“In that case, we can only say, ‘Good luck! MCA has its own path’. MCA will not sit quietly if Umno continues to favour arrangements outside Barisan, especially with DAP,” he said.
Addressing suggestions that MCA join Perikatan Nasional, Dr Wee said the party could not ignore long-standing Chinese voter sentiment toward PAS.
“The Chinese community has long held little goodwill toward PAS and, in fact, strongly rejects the party,” he said, adding that this sentiment has deepened since PAS severed ties with DAP and that some PAS leaders continue to make remarks hurtful to non-Muslim communities.
“Unless PAS undertakes clear reforms and becomes more moderate and accepted by a diverse society, this factor will continue to prevent non-Muslim parties from agreeing with Perikatan.”
Dr Wee said MCA remains open to working with any party that upholds a multiracial, moderate, and democratic platform, including a potential “third force”, but stressed that the party’s immediate focus must be on rebuilding its own strength.
He noted that the Sabah election showed relying on Barisan allies to deliver bumiputra votes was no longer viable and urged MCA to step out of its comfort zone to engage with Muslim and non-Muslim bumiputra communities.
“The more pressing priority for MCA is strengthening ourselves and regaining the people’s support. If we rebuild our strength and win back public confidence, then regardless of where we stand politically, we can stand tall and firm.
“But if we fail to strengthen ourselves and lose public support, then no matter where we go, we will struggle and stumble,” he said.
Dr Wee added that MCA will never bow to any party for short-term gain.
“We will never trade principles for positions or power,” he said.
