Thursday March 11, 2010
By FOONG PEK YEE
THE winners in the upcoming MCA elections have a heavy responsibility ahead — uniting the party to face the next general election, slated to be held two years from now.
The poll is being closely followed by not only party members but also Barisan Nasional leaders.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said "time is not on our side", a reminder to the MCA, the second largest Barisan Nasional component party, on the need to buck up and be prepared for the next general election.
Its dismal performance in the last elections, when it lost more than half of the 106 seats it held from the previous elections (from 31 parliamentary seats and 75 state seats in 2004 to 15 parliamentary seats and 32 state seats in 2008), is certainly a cause for concern.
Unfortunately, the internal problems that arose shortly after the party elections in October 2008 continued to sap the party's energy.
The March 28 party poll is widely seen as the last chance for the MCA to reclaim lost ground and move forward.
Said a Youth leader: "We should now focus on completing the elections, reunite the party and face the next general election. This is the most sensible thing to do."
The poll will have more than its share of excitement as well.
With no announcements from the party top guns on what positions they will be contesting, the media, particularly the Chinese media, is having a field day, tracking every movement of the party leaders.
A dinner for central delegates in Johor on Tuesday night saw the attendance of Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen and Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong, fuelling speculation of a possible team-up for the poll.
Dr Chua, the Johor MCA chief, Kong, the Housing and Local Government Minister, and Dr Ng, the Tourism Minister, are seen as being in one team. Dr Wee, who is party Youth chief and Ayer Hitam MP, is aligned to another team led by Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
The dinner was held in Dr Wee's constituency.
Of the 1,742 Youth central delegates, almost a third are also MCA central delegates and they will be voting in the upcoming elections. There are 2,378 MCA central delegates.
Dr Wee is not expected to contest for any position.
Also being closely watched is incumbent president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat after he hinted strongly to the central delegates at the party's annual general meeting last Sunday that he would "continue his journey in bringing reforms to the party".
But the biggest question is who will be Tee Keat's running mate?
The fallout between Tee Keat and his deputy shortly after the last party elections underscores the importance of teaming up before the polls if possible.
(Dr Chua and 21 other central committee members resigned from the central committee last week to pave the way for the March 28 elections.)
A veteran leader said it would be good if formidable teams could find a common ground before going to the polls.
"This will make closing ranks easier and faster," he reasoned.
An MCA Youth leader says putting the party and general election above anything else is the "most sensible thing" to do when elaborating on the importance of the "unification factor" to get the party out of the rut.
"The new leadership must be able to unite the party fast. The next one year and the run-up to the next general election will be the most crucial time for us. This (elections) is the last chance for all of us if we want to save the party."
A party leader from Perak, who supported the views of the Youth leader, said: "There is absolutely no time for trial and error. It is either we buck up or pack up."
With nominations on March 22, a leader from Perak says the candidates are expected to start announcing their plans this weekend.
He feels that the candidates have almost made up their minds and the next few days will be spent on finalising on-going negotiations.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that efforts are being made to make the elections less traumatic so that the healing will be faster.
Many of the elected central committee members are expected to contest again.
Those who have announced their decision not to contest include Tan Kok Hong (vice-president) and Datuk Yu Chok Tow (elected central committee member).
Both were among the 22 who resigned last week.
There are also those who lost in the last party elections trying to stage a comeback.
They include Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan; Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn, Datuk Chor Chee Heung and Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai.
Ka Chuan, the elder brother of former MCA president Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting, and Lim lost in the deputy presidency race while Dr Fong and Chor lost in their bid for a vice-president's post.
Talk is that Ka Chuan, Dr Fong and Lim are keeping their options open and waiting for offers.
The MCA holds triennial elections and the last one was on Oct 18, 2008.
The upcoming elections would complete the three-year-term (2008-2011).
Come March 28, there are 31 posts up for grabs — president, deputy president, four vice-presidents and 25 elected central committee members.
Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/11/nation/5836478&sec=nation
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The poll is being closely followed by not only party members but also Barisan Nasional leaders.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said "time is not on our side", a reminder to the MCA, the second largest Barisan Nasional component party, on the need to buck up and be prepared for the next general election.
Its dismal performance in the last elections, when it lost more than half of the 106 seats it held from the previous elections (from 31 parliamentary seats and 75 state seats in 2004 to 15 parliamentary seats and 32 state seats in 2008), is certainly a cause for concern.
Unfortunately, the internal problems that arose shortly after the party elections in October 2008 continued to sap the party's energy.
The March 28 party poll is widely seen as the last chance for the MCA to reclaim lost ground and move forward.
Said a Youth leader: "We should now focus on completing the elections, reunite the party and face the next general election. This is the most sensible thing to do."
The poll will have more than its share of excitement as well.
With no announcements from the party top guns on what positions they will be contesting, the media, particularly the Chinese media, is having a field day, tracking every movement of the party leaders.
A dinner for central delegates in Johor on Tuesday night saw the attendance of Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen and Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong, fuelling speculation of a possible team-up for the poll.
Dr Chua, the Johor MCA chief, Kong, the Housing and Local Government Minister, and Dr Ng, the Tourism Minister, are seen as being in one team. Dr Wee, who is party Youth chief and Ayer Hitam MP, is aligned to another team led by Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
The dinner was held in Dr Wee's constituency.
Of the 1,742 Youth central delegates, almost a third are also MCA central delegates and they will be voting in the upcoming elections. There are 2,378 MCA central delegates.
Dr Wee is not expected to contest for any position.
Also being closely watched is incumbent president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat after he hinted strongly to the central delegates at the party's annual general meeting last Sunday that he would "continue his journey in bringing reforms to the party".
But the biggest question is who will be Tee Keat's running mate?
The fallout between Tee Keat and his deputy shortly after the last party elections underscores the importance of teaming up before the polls if possible.
(Dr Chua and 21 other central committee members resigned from the central committee last week to pave the way for the March 28 elections.)
A veteran leader said it would be good if formidable teams could find a common ground before going to the polls.
"This will make closing ranks easier and faster," he reasoned.
An MCA Youth leader says putting the party and general election above anything else is the "most sensible thing" to do when elaborating on the importance of the "unification factor" to get the party out of the rut.
"The new leadership must be able to unite the party fast. The next one year and the run-up to the next general election will be the most crucial time for us. This (elections) is the last chance for all of us if we want to save the party."
A party leader from Perak, who supported the views of the Youth leader, said: "There is absolutely no time for trial and error. It is either we buck up or pack up."
With nominations on March 22, a leader from Perak says the candidates are expected to start announcing their plans this weekend.
He feels that the candidates have almost made up their minds and the next few days will be spent on finalising on-going negotiations.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that efforts are being made to make the elections less traumatic so that the healing will be faster.
Many of the elected central committee members are expected to contest again.
Those who have announced their decision not to contest include Tan Kok Hong (vice-president) and Datuk Yu Chok Tow (elected central committee member).
Both were among the 22 who resigned last week.
There are also those who lost in the last party elections trying to stage a comeback.
They include Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan; Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn, Datuk Chor Chee Heung and Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai.
Ka Chuan, the elder brother of former MCA president Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting, and Lim lost in the deputy presidency race while Dr Fong and Chor lost in their bid for a vice-president's post.
Talk is that Ka Chuan, Dr Fong and Lim are keeping their options open and waiting for offers.
The MCA holds triennial elections and the last one was on Oct 18, 2008.
The upcoming elections would complete the three-year-term (2008-2011).
Come March 28, there are 31 posts up for grabs — president, deputy president, four vice-presidents and 25 elected central committee members.
Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/11/nation/5836478&sec=nation
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Wonder......
What is UMNO up to? Making the Chinese split - Divide and Conquer....
Stirring up the Allah issue - Making the Muslims split within PAS? - Divide and Conquer......
Does this work anymore? Even when saying MCA should unite and face election - there is also a count of LOSSES... should the BN focuses on the WINNING instead?
Funnier side - all the losers are "waiting for offers" - is MCA all about individualism or does party matters anymore?
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