Quō vādis MCA 2.0?

MM Online - As MCA turns 70, is race-based politics still relevant in Malaysia? (extracts):

KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 — The Chinese-based opposition party MCA celebrated its 70th anniversary yesterday as it rebranded itself as MCA 2.0, but questions arise on whether the communal politics it was founded on is still applicable in Malaysia.

In examining the MCA’s dimmer political fortunes now compared to its previous status as a member of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, Hong Kong paper South China Morning Post(SCMP) traced the roots of the party’s initial strength where it engaged in welfare work during the colonial era when the British resettled Chinese Malaysians into “New Villages”.

Historian Lee Kam Hing from New Era University College reportedly noted MCA’s role in presenting a united front with its alliance with Umno in the country’s independence talks with the British, as well as its work in serving the ethnic Chinese community.

“Its work in the new villages — where there was an MCA branch in every one of those places — as well as its early role helping thousands to gain citizenship were its sources of political strength,” he was quoted saying by SCMP.

Political observer Oh Ei Sun also reportedly said MCA’s current status now was due to its alleged increasing giving in to “Umno’s racially supremacist stances and policies over the years and was ineffectual in protecting Chinese rights”, adding that MCA members were perceived to be “preoccupied with advancing their own interests, often in collusion with the insidiously corrupt Umno regime”.

But down from its previous three ministers in the Cabinet, MCA which was on a decline in political popularity now has only one representative among the 222 MPs, six of the 70 senators and only two among the 500-odd state assemblymen.

[...] As for the communal nature of MCA, party vice-president Datuk Ti Lian Ker said the party walks the talk on the issue of tolerance and has a role to play in keeping right-wing religious extremism in check.

“The pressure should not be on MCA to become a multiracial party when there are other mono-ethnic parties that need to be held in check so that all our interests are brought to the table,” he was quoted saying, also criticising rival DAP previously for criticising MCA for allegedly not protecting the Chinese community but now stressing on a multiracial approach after coming into power.

This post is not about the current hypocrisy of the DAP, as I have already written about that in a previous post The new MCA 2.0.

It's about "MCA quō vādis?" meaning 'MCA, whither goest thou?' or as we would have asked MCA, 'Now, what's next for the new MCA 2.0?'

The borrowed saying was in classical Latin in a narrated Christian episode involving the pre-crucifixion days of St Peter. Peter was then converting believers in Rome but fled the City when Emperor Nero began his persecutions of Christians.

On the Appian Way outside Rome, Peter encountered a vision of Christ bearing his Cross. Peter asked Jesus, "Quō vādis?"

 The Church of Domine Quo Vadis in Rome is built where the meeting between Peter and Jesus allegedly took place 

Jesus was said to have replied, "Rōmam eō iterum crucifīgī" (I am going to Rome to be crucified again).

It was said that Peter thus inspired gained the courage to return to Rome to continue his ministry. Poor bloke was eventually crucified by the Romans, but requested an upside-down crucifixion because he felt he was unworthy to be executed in the same manner as his Lord Jesus.

alas, the upside-down Cross of St Peter (a.k.a the Petrine Cross) has sometimes been misappropriated as the symbol for Satan

When we ask "MCA quō vādis?" we aren't expecting the political party to be martyred on an upside-down cross, wakakaka, but to take inspiration from St Peter's courage to do the right thing and not run away.

The 'right thing' does not mean going it alone as your detractors obviously have jeered about and insisted - moronic statements like "MCA must leave BN to regain dignity" etc etc. Well, they should ask the DAP to leave Pribumi-dominated Pakatan first, wakakaka.

That would be damn silly in a political environment like multi-ethnic Malaysia. As just mentioned, look at the DAP - has it rejected Pribumi to go it alone?

The 'right thing' means not to be subservient to Tai-Koe, as you had been and which DAP is doing now. MCA 2.0 must always speak up for the interests of your constituency, the people you claim to represent.

When in a coalition with whoever, there must no longer be an absolute-dictator-like Mahafiraun-ish Tai-Koe. MCA 2.0 must be an equal in that coalition, though it is accepted that in a functioning group like a cabinet, there will be a primus inter pares (first among equals), for example, the PM in his cabinet of equals.

The Malaysian cabinet has NEVER practised the Westminster concept of primus inter pares since 1981 because the cabinet ministers just take orders like budak-budak kecil from Tai-Koe.

While a PM has certain say and veto powers, the individual minister responsible for his/her portfolio decides on policies and detailed programs. The PM only ensures those policies and programs do not clash with the cabinet agreement or national interests and hopefully dovetail with his (PM's) plans.

That said, if you wish to remain in BN (or any coalitions), don't ever let UMNO or any other component party dominate the coalition agenda, as Pribumi is doing in the Pakatan government - for a ridiculously absurd case of domineering lopsidedness in Pakatan, look at the Perak MB being appointed from the SOLE Pribumi ADUN in that state, namely the man who loves trees in forest reserves, Ahmad Faizal Azumu, who BTW has been disowned kaukau by Wong Tuck, wakakaka.

MB of Perak, Faizal Azumu. who "love" big tall trees of Perak forest reserves

but who has been "disowned" kaukau by Wong Tuck the Greenie

wakakaka

Why couldn't an ADUN from Amanah (6 seats) or PKR (4 seats) or the worst of the Pakatan lot, DAP, which won 18 seats, be appointed the MB of Perak? I am talking about a Malay ADUN, not a Chinaman or an Indian.

Why should the MB be appointed from the SOLE Pribumi ADUN (don't talk about Zainol Padzi Paharudin, ADUN Sungai Manik, who became an instant disgusting frog only AFTER a mere 4 days post GE14)?

Why hasn't DAP, PKR or Amanah said anything? Hasn't that been dominance and Mahafiraun-ism by the über component in Pakatan Harapan?

But let us leave that for the DAP grassroots to squeeze their balls over in frustration as Lim Snr and Jnr are both too afraid to utter a single word for fear of whatever.

MCA 2.0's future lies not in an ethnic-based party as it always has been since Day 1. It's time to be multiracial like Gerakan, PKR, DAP and the old Socialist Front.

Even Patriot, the National Patriots (ex-servicemen) Association has called on all parties to abandon race-based politics, saying that racism and racial politicking have crossed into the “danger zone.

Brig Gen (rtd) Arshad Raji

FMT reported (extracts): Noting recent developments among the major parties, Patriot president Arshad Raji said the propagation of race and religion was taking centre stage and if allowed to fester “there is little hope of ever seeing a united Malaysian society”.

“Constructive change must start before our nation and society descend into permanent destruction.

“The dismantling of race-based political parties is our only hope of seeing the emergence of a truly undivided Malaysian society.”

“The latest development asking MCA and MIC to leave BN is mischievous and bewildering and further indicates that politics has rolled back into pure racism."

“BN’s founding fathers had forged a coalition to strengthen unity among the three major races,” he said, adding that this was being threatened by selfish and self-centred politicians, including those who had held powerful positions in government before.

“We can start to get rid of racism by having non-race-based political parties.

“Patriot urges all parties to move towards achieving that purpose in sync with the multiracial nature of our society.

Thus while I respect my matey, Datuk Ti Lian Ker for his views that the MCA walks the talk on the issue of tolerance and that it still has a role to play in keeping right-wing religious extremism in check, I would strongly recommend the party, which has helped many Chinese Malaysians become citizens of our nation, especially in the early days of Independence, and also in vernacular education (up to UTAR standard), to become a new but multiracial political party.

Get together with Gerakan and MIC to merge into one single new party. After all, many in Gerakan were once from MCA.