The current cacophony of the MCA fracas is deafening and dominating the prominent pages of our dailies, both English and vernacular. Enough pain and injury have been inflicted to the party which both fractions claim to bear love for. Yet the infighting rages on, but for what? Is the prize the post of the president of the party and the pomp and power that accompany the position? Or is it something else?

We, ordinary people-in-the-street, the MCA supporters, are not privileged to know, as we never held that post, only live in the belief that the person at the helm is the best and most able among our midst elected to look after the interest of the community. For that reason, we allow ourselves to be led by these politicians to do their bidding at each election, unsuspectingly, and completely oblivious, unaware of, and disinterested in the luxury of life in high office or the material and other benefits which some politicians are fighting, tooth and nail, for all in the good name of serving the people.

We are not saying that this country has not produced any honest and clean politicians (statespersons, I would call them) who hold the interest of the people and the nation at heart. Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, Tun Sri Dr Tan Chee Koon, Tun VT Sambanthan, Tun Hussein Onn, Tan Sri Musa Hitam, and Lim Kit Siang to name a few, all belong to this category and we are sure, presently, there are some within the MCA who meet the criteria.

Being a 'sleeping' life member of MCA for more than three decades, I have been rudely shaken up from my slumber by these goings-on and the rumblings of discontent from the ranks, and now been nudged by my fellow Chinese Malaysians to say my part.

What amazes me is the fact that apart from one solitary Lone Ranger Buddhist (as reported in The Star of Xmas Day), the 'war' at the top is being waged among Christians, albeit of different denominations. For Christ's sake, why could not they sit down peacefully and resolve earthly issues amicably?

And may I ask, what have happened to the traditional Chinese virtues of patience and forbearance and the thousands of years of Chinese culture of being able to solve family problems without resorting to wash your dirty linen in public, and without having to trouble the prime minister who is already 76 and facing a myriad problems of his own with the affairs of the nation.

By the intervention and advice of the Prime Minister, a 'truce' is called and is in effect, ostensibly to close ranks and rally behind the Barisan Nasional banner in combating opposing forces in the coming Indera Kayangan by-election. I must add that for the 'truce' to be enduring, to prevent 'war' restarting within the party after the by-election, the victors must not bask in their glory. What prize glory? Thomas Gray (1716-71) wrote: "The paths of glory lead but to the grave" (for the party, I mean)

Our clarion call to the president: to please swallow some pride (echoing our Dr Mahathir Mohamad's words), eat some humble pie, and descend from your ivory tower with all humility of a good general, to listen ardently to the 49 percent voice of dissent over the Nanyang Press Holding takeover issue.

Please consider the scenario: what would your reaction be if Umno rejects an MCA proposal and turns a deaf ear to you because you have less than 51 percent representation in the Barisan Nasional?