MCA Youth mulls offering membership to all races

MCA Youth plans to open its membership to the non-Chinese community after realising the party is facing an uncertain future due to loss of support from Chinese voters.

Its chairman Datuk Chong Sin Woon said MCA could be the first amongst Barisan Nasional's (BN) main component parties to have members who represent voters from all races.

"We will bring up this proposal during our annual general meeting so that the party's constitution could be amended to allow for this to take place," he said today.

Speaking at a press conference at Wisma MCA here, Chong said BN once opened its membership to all regardless of race, especially for those who do not belong to any political party.

However, it did not get the expected response because people are not yet ready, he added.

"We began as a party for one race but we want to look to the future and become a multiracial party one day.

"MCA members are still not ready for full membership of non-Chinese people. So, we want to start by giving affiliate membership status first," he said.

MCA President Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai who was also present said he welcomes the proposal by MCA Youth to open its membership to the non-Chinese.

He also wants the government to have dialogue sessions with youths of various races, including MCA representatives, in line with the 2050 National Transformation (TN50) announced by Prime Minister on Friday.

Tabling the 2017 Budget, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the government will launch a series of national discourse to chart the nation's direction on the TN50 new canvas which will span three decades to form a calibre nation state with par excellent mindset.