COMMENT In my last article, I suggested that the Malaysian Chinese Association's (MCA) "statement of fact" was akin to "climbing a tree to catch a fish". Basically, to my mind, the party was making a spectacle of itself in a futile effort to win back popular support.

There is however a silver lining for the party and if there are members perceptive enough to realise it, the present situation opens up new opportunities for the party to reposition itself positively in the collective imagination of Malaysians.

NONEIt is from the ashes that the phoenix raises but can the MCA be reborn?

Acknowledging that one has a problem is the first step towards self-improvement.

The MCA leadership is in no position to deny that it has lost support from a majority of Malaysians, especially those living in urban areas.

It still finds it hard to admit that despite all the good work of Michael Chong (left), the setting-up of Utar, the social work that its bureaus conduct; the party has been consistently bleeding support at the ballot boxes.

Its hard-hitting and quick-witted president Dr Chua Soi Lek's "standing-up" to Umno has not pulled the votes the party so desperately needs.

What the party has to face-up to is that voters in urban areas have moved far ahead of the party's outmoded structure and way of doing things.

Beyond soundbites

The MCA will have to go beyond soundbites if it wants to claw back support from the electorate.

Here are five key performance areas (KPA) that the MCA needs to concentrate on if it wants to succeed in its Party Transformation Programme (PTP). Under each KPA are entry point projects (EPP) that the party can drive to catch up with the electorate.

Each of these EPPs can then be benchmarked against concrete outcomes, in this case votes in the next general elections.

The first KPA has to do with ‘race-based' politics. Unless the MCA wants to confine itself to fighting Pakatan Rakyat in the forty-odd parliamentary seats where the Chinese still form a majority and probably lose very badly, the party needs to seize the day by strengthening the BN as a single party made up of ethnic-based components.

In short, transform the BN by insisting that the BN supreme council dictates policy.

The EPP here will be a closing of ranks the BN Youth level. This is a sure-fire way of catching the imagination of the younger generation and showcasing the ‘1Malaysia' concept at work.

If the BN Youth meetings, policies and programmes can be decided based upon an equal platform, there is hope that the BN will truly become a Malaysian political party instead of the stop-gap measure to ‘negotiate' competing interests.

The second KPA is MCA representation in the cabinet. We are not talking about getting the Finance Ministry back but reforming the old structure.

Currently, there is too much politicking as party leaders jockey for party positions just be in the cabinet. Instead the party can choose an entry point project by refusing to comply with this old-fashioned way of selecting its cabinet representatives.

Instead, the party supreme council can choose the best brains amongst Malaysians of all ethnicity to represent its interests.

Of course, that person must subscribe to the values of the party. This will free the Malaysian cabinet of mediocrity especially in an age of global competition where we really need the best and the brightest in our cabinet.

The third KPA must be public relations. Whoever is handling public relations for the party must have continuous migraine as party leaders shoot off the cuff without reference or understanding of what the party is suppose to represent.

The EPP here is to relook at the party's support base, identify what are their aspirations and make sure leaders respond to them positively. The MCA sorely needs more discipline and those who make mistakes must be booted out.

Corrupt practices

The DAP demonstrated it could do that when doubts about the integrity of one of its councillors came to light. If necessary, the membership of former presidents and anyone else charged in court for corrupt practices should be suspended until his/her innocence is proven.

It may be unfair but such is the drastic action the MCA has to do to re-make itself. Start with those involved in the PKFZ scandal. If they are innocent, they can return to the party. If they don't wish to return, they don't have to as they are already retired.

mahathir responses to suaram report 02The fourth KPA is more difficult to achieve than the first three. The MCA has to persuade Umno to live up to its own slogan of 1Malaysia. When Dr Mahathir Mohamad (right) was PM, everyone in Umno willy-nilly supported Vision 2020.

Yet today, the BN-leadership is unable to instill order in the coalition. There are reservations about 1Malaysia but the MCA has to take a lead.

Even if the DPM disagrees with it or some minister has a narrow interpretation of it, the MCA has to take up the cudgels and make a stand.

The first EPP here is vernacular education. The MCA has to find a way to preserve mother-tongue education yet strengthen national unity, one based upon the national language Bahasa Malaysia.

In short, the MCA's biggest challenge will be to persuade Umno that diversity is not a weakness but Malaysia's strength.

Citizens can only believe the MCA if the BN and the entire civil service implement all policies related to 1Malaysia consistently and meaningfully.

Lastly, the fifth KPA draws upon the party's ‘last stand', its ‘statement of fact'. If it is now faced with political oblivion, the MCA has nothing to lose.

Shrinking fast

Realising that the Chinese electorate is shrinking and shrinking fast, it must intensify Malaysian integration. Here the EPP is building public consensus through all the media channels that the MCA controls.

Instead of curbing press freedom, the MCA should encourage responsible journalism but a free press nevertheless.

It can do this by letting the editors of its newspapers and radio stations do their job. Even Dr Mahathir said that some form of criticism, especially constructive criticism is needed.

The MCA has to find the gumption and the intellectual arguments to meet the aspirations of the people it wants voting for the party.

Perhaps like all KPAs and EPPs, there is a bit of unreality with the five aspects drawn up above but one thing the party cannot afford to do is to continue on its present path.

Policies drawn up without proper analysis is delusional. Policies drawn up based on the sugary sentiments of those dependent on the party for a livelihood will lead to disaster.

In short, the MCA cannot afford to make mistakes at this juncture in its life. It must at least try to make the best of a bad situation and present the best hope for all Malaysians.

If it does not succeed, it will at least be remembered for trying.

 

NEIL KHOR completed his PhD at Cambridge University and now writes occasionally on matters that he thinks requires better historical treatment. He is quietly optimistic about Malaysia's future.