Something fishy in MCA
Pang Yen Guan<br>Johor BaruPublished: Feb 27, 2001 11:15 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik may seem ingenious in applying the 'fish head' analogy to the power struggle in the pary, but he has to be reminded that the rot in the MCA 'fish' had been going on for too long, too extensively in the party hierarchy.
In the MCA's 52nd anniversary celebrations last Sunday, several party leaders echoed Ling's call for members to maintain unity and put party interest above all else. As if waving a magic wand, calm and unity were restored. A few shows of handshakes and more charade took centre stage, then the road shows featuring sabre-rattlers folded, ready to be restaged another day.
Yang Berhormat, what good is unity among the privileged few when the soul of the Chinese community MCA claims to represent is praying for salvation? Unity does not guarantee progress. MCA went through spells of unity and stability in the last 15 years, what achievement can the party be proud of? The ability to 'solve' problems is not the desired trait of a leader. True leaders create vision, develop strategies, plans and objectives. Unity provides the environment for achieving these objectives.
Doing the right things is not the same as doing things right. Without vision and direction, complacency erodes the MCA machinery.
Succession is a function of service and performance; neither of these is in Ling's favour. After 15 years at the helm of MCA and the Transport Ministry, his performance is disappointing, if not appalling.
At party level, the Chinese community is not satisfied with the party's performance, especially in education. MCA gained ground only because of 'fear' tactics. Has MCA ever conducted meaningful studies to identify the aspirations of the Chinese community the party claims to represent? Does MCA formulate missions and plans to achieve these aspirations? MCA's present leadership cannot showcase whatever achievements they claimed in the MCA agenda. The emergence of [#1]Suqiu[/#] had effectively debunked all these claims.
At ministerial level, the development of the transportation system leaves much to be desired. Has his ministry established performance standards and mechanisms by which they can measure them? How is user satisfaction gauged? The North Port is not the feather in the minister's cap. This port grew from a very low base, and only after the prodding of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the business community.
In all fairness, Ling has done some good to the party, the Chinese community and the country. But some achievements are nothing to crow about. A fireman who puts out fire every day is mediocre, but a fireman who prevents fire and saves lives is outstanding. For a permanent fixture in MCA politics and the Transport Ministry since 1986, his achievements would be weighed against what he could and should have done for the nation.
The MCA leadership should realise that their problem today is not succession but self-renewal. Maintaining unity and party interest will only prolong the ailment and suffering in the party. But do they have the wisdom and courage to abdicate their mini-empires and the benefits along with it? Nay, the stench of rotting fish head is too tempting to resist!
One central committee member in the celebrations said it is normal for party leaders to "work out a succession arrangement" (ponder the wordings) before they quit. He did not elaborate the timing, presumably a year or two before quitting time. On this score, Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong has jumped the gun when he declared the Singapore premiership change is scheduled for 2006. In good governance, the line of succession and renewal must be carefully planned and made transparent. Why is the issue of succession a taboo in MCA politics? Didn't the Prime Minister's line of succession go into a tailspin several times in the past?
To Dr Ling Liong Sik, I beg of you to listen to the cries of demoralised Chinese schools going down the path of extinction. Your rotten fish head theory is a farce, any housewife knows the rot starts from the gut.
To the Chinese community MCA claims to represent, I say bury this rotting fish, head and all. Go nurture a new breed of clean, honest and competent fish for a better tomorrow.
In the MCA's 52nd anniversary celebrations last Sunday, several party leaders echoed Ling's call for members to maintain unity and put party interest above all else. As if waving a magic wand, calm and unity were restored. A few shows of handshakes and more charade took centre stage, then the road shows featuring sabre-rattlers folded, ready to be restaged another day.
Yang Berhormat, what good is unity among the privileged few when the soul of the Chinese community MCA claims to represent is praying for salvation? Unity does not guarantee progress. MCA went through spells of unity and stability in the last 15 years, what achievement can the party be proud of? The ability to 'solve' problems is not the desired trait of a leader. True leaders create vision, develop strategies, plans and objectives. Unity provides the environment for achieving these objectives.
Doing the right things is not the same as doing things right. Without vision and direction, complacency erodes the MCA machinery.
Succession is a function of service and performance; neither of these is in Ling's favour. After 15 years at the helm of MCA and the Transport Ministry, his performance is disappointing, if not appalling.
At party level, the Chinese community is not satisfied with the party's performance, especially in education. MCA gained ground only because of 'fear' tactics. Has MCA ever conducted meaningful studies to identify the aspirations of the Chinese community the party claims to represent? Does MCA formulate missions and plans to achieve these aspirations? MCA's present leadership cannot showcase whatever achievements they claimed in the MCA agenda. The emergence of [#1]Suqiu[/#] had effectively debunked all these claims.
At ministerial level, the development of the transportation system leaves much to be desired. Has his ministry established performance standards and mechanisms by which they can measure them? How is user satisfaction gauged? The North Port is not the feather in the minister's cap. This port grew from a very low base, and only after the prodding of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the business community.
In all fairness, Ling has done some good to the party, the Chinese community and the country. But some achievements are nothing to crow about. A fireman who puts out fire every day is mediocre, but a fireman who prevents fire and saves lives is outstanding. For a permanent fixture in MCA politics and the Transport Ministry since 1986, his achievements would be weighed against what he could and should have done for the nation.
The MCA leadership should realise that their problem today is not succession but self-renewal. Maintaining unity and party interest will only prolong the ailment and suffering in the party. But do they have the wisdom and courage to abdicate their mini-empires and the benefits along with it? Nay, the stench of rotting fish head is too tempting to resist!
One central committee member in the celebrations said it is normal for party leaders to "work out a succession arrangement" (ponder the wordings) before they quit. He did not elaborate the timing, presumably a year or two before quitting time. On this score, Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong has jumped the gun when he declared the Singapore premiership change is scheduled for 2006. In good governance, the line of succession and renewal must be carefully planned and made transparent. Why is the issue of succession a taboo in MCA politics? Didn't the Prime Minister's line of succession go into a tailspin several times in the past?
To Dr Ling Liong Sik, I beg of you to listen to the cries of demoralised Chinese schools going down the path of extinction. Your rotten fish head theory is a farce, any housewife knows the rot starts from the gut.
To the Chinese community MCA claims to represent, I say bury this rotting fish, head and all. Go nurture a new breed of clean, honest and competent fish for a better tomorrow.
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