Chinese at a political crossroads

THE rise of Islamism in Malaysian society in the early 1970s with the dakwah movement propelled by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the influence of the religion in Malaysian politics and government under then-prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed in the 1980s was another turning point for the MCA.

As a member of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, the MCA did its part to keep the administration on its track of moderation, respect diversity and protection of minority interests. There were subsequent flashpoints that included unilateral conversion of non-Muslim minors to Muslims, proposed implementation of Islamic state and hudud laws, and other policies that was detrimental to racial harmony – all of which MCA stood firmly against and insisted that Federal Constitution remains the supreme law of this country.