'MCA MPs might as well resign'

MCA’s stance to not take up any government positions due to its poor showing in the 13th General should not just stop there.

The second largest Barisan Nasional component party should also ask all of its elected MPs to resign from their positions.

This was the hard-hitting statement by political analyst Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria, who said that MCA should not punish the Chinese community for doing worse than in 2008.

MCA only won seven parliamentary and 11 state seats after contesting in 37 parliamentary and 90 state seats. This result was worse than in 2008, when the party won 15 parliamentary and 32 state seats out of 40 parliamentary and 90 state seats contested.

“To withdraw from taking any government or cabinet positions is quite irresponsible, if you really want to do it, you should resign your MP positions as well,” said Denison, who is Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Institute of Ethnic Studies principal research fellow.

“To not hold government position is akin to punishing the Chinese community. This is a political merajuk. You should not let down those who still have confidence and voted in your MPs,” he said.

Denison said that MCA’s stance further polarise and divides the people and is not good politics.

He also said that MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek should resign immediately instead of his announced decision to not seek another term in as the party chief.

“If the MCA leaders feel that they have lost the community’s trust, they should step down. If you have a sense of hopelessness and is doing this, you might as well close down MCA and let Umno respond to the Chinese,” he said.

Denison said that MCA should instead try to rebuild the party, or BN could even start inviting academics, prominent businessmen or civil society to play the role supposedly taken up by MCA.

“Failure is a stepping stone to success. Especially in politics where you can rise again. Perhaps MCA can get help from the private sector. Look at DAP’s Lim Kit Siang, he lost in 1999 but today he is riding high,” he said.

Denison said MCA, as with all political parties, should allow more younger leaders to lead the way.

MCA had previously said that its leaders would not take up any government post, either federal or state if it performed worse than 2008, as was decided unanimously by the party's extraordinary meeting last year.