It is true that despite its many sincere attempts, MCA has not been able to satisfy everyone in this complex society of ours. MCA does make mistakes. However, as a founding party of the Alliance and Barisan Nasional, MCA should be treated with dignity by Umno and other fellow component parties.

MCA is not without its own strength but for the sake of the unity of the Barisan Nasional, it is just tolerating many nonsensical decisions made without consultation. For example, MCA was not consulted beforehand on Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's proclamation of an Islamic state for Malaysia recently.

I do not think any other component parties, including Gerakan and MIC, was consulted, and their agreement sought beforehand. However, since the proclamation is not to be followed up by any constitutional amendments, MCA just accept it as a political tool for Umno to counter PAS.

But there is always a limit to MCA's patience and tolerance. Umno must not take our patience and tolerance for granted. It means that Umno must not do unto others what it does not want others to do unto it. As Umno does not like others to sponsor and protect its dissidents, ditto MCA.

MCA is a sovereign party which has its own elected leaders. It is a party that is responsible to its constituents which differ from Umno's. If Umno really loves Team B so much, it should ask them to join Gerakan or absorb them into PM's Chinese secretariat.

Team B is merely a group of frustrated losers in the democratic party that is bent on disrupting and destroying the whole party after failing to obtain enough support from the grassroots.

Mahathir, in particular, should ask Team B to accept defeat, accept the democratic leadership of Dr Ling Liong Sik, or leave like gentlemen to join Gerakan. MCA has many projects to be completed on time for the benefits of Malaysians, especially Chinese Malaysians.

MCA, under the leadership of Dr Ling Liong Sik has therefore no time to engage in petty squabbles with sore and bitter losers without end. Mahathir should, upon his return, order the New Straits Times and Utusan Malaysia to cease defaming the established leadership of MCA and giving moral support to the so-called Team B. It is against the spirit of Barisan Nasional.