MCA highly unlikely to leave BN, say analysts

FMT:

 

MCA highly unlikely to

leave BN, say analysts

Mohamad Fadli

-04 Feb 2025, 08:30 AM

They say the party is too weak to stand on its own, while Umno needs it to stay relevant.

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MCA president Wee Ka Siong claimed that certain ‘outsiders’ had suggested expelling his party from Barisan Nasional.

PETALING JAYA: 

Analysts have played down the likelihood of MCA leaving Barisan Nasional (BN), saying it is not strong enough to stand on its own and is still needed by Umno to stay politically relevant despite recent developments in their relationship.

Hisommudin Bakar, executive director of Ilham Centre, said it was highly unlikely that MCA would be expelled from BN or leave on its own, given its weakened position and loss of influence in general elections since 2008.

“It has yet to find a winning formula to recover from its decline. In this context, MCA can only survive by clinging to BN without real leverage,” he told FMT.

Hisommudin also said that Umno should assign MCA appropriate roles in government to help revive the party.

“The exchange of statements between MCA and Umno leaders only reinforces the perception that BN’s component parties are plagued by internal conflicts,” he said.

Last week, MCA president Wee Ka Siong claimed that “outsiders” had suggested expelling the party from BN.

Malaysiakini quoted Wee as saying that these calls came from individuals who previously accused MCA of betraying the Chinese community by aligning itself with Umno.

At the same time, Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh threatened to sue Johor MCA deputy publicity chief Law Yiak Kwang over the use of an allegedly derogatory nickname, drawing criticism from MCA vice-president Tan Teik Cheng.

National Professors Council fellow Azmi Hassan, however, advised MCA not to dwell on claims that “outsiders” want it removed from BN, saying both parties depend on each other and share common interests in facing future challenges.

“Their differences, in my view, are actually beneficial, similar to how Umno and DAP have contrasting views despite being in the same government. The same applies to MCA within BN.

“There is no reason for Umno to push MCA out as the party’s presence remains advantageous to Umno,” he said.

MCA and Umno have been political allies since Malaysia’s independence, first under the Alliance Party and later in BN.