There is an enormous amount of clamouring within the MCA grassroots - that it is meaningless and undignified to stay in Barisan Nasional if Umno doesn't change - but few could articulate the strategy to get its key partner to go down that road.

However, the March 8 political tsunami did open a window of opportunity for MCA to regain respect and influence; to regroup as a credible political force in Malaysia and to regain the lifeblood of any political party - its voters base.

anwar and pak lah 240908 First of all, I am making the assumption that all Malaysians agree with me that a two-party/front system is good for the country and we must work to make it happen.

As such, in the interest of a Malaysian Malaysia, the political leadership in the country must work to avoid the possible degeneration into a single-ethnic/racial front.

For example, Umno must not be left to regain the Malay votes on its own and all efforts must be made to discourage the key ruling party from collaboration with other Malay dominant parties. An analysis of the post-March 8 political landscape is also telling us that the Malay electorate is now split between Umno, PAS and PKR; with Umno commanding 79 seats out of the 222 seats and the majority of Malay votes.

seats won by bn foong wai fong 061008 The 79, plus the 20 from non-Umno Peninsular Malaysia BN, makes 99 Malay-majority seats. One should take note that the ‘at risk’ seats, defined as one with a majority of less than 5,000 and 3,000 are 54 and 27 respectively, or a total of 81 seats.

On one hand, it seems clear to Umno that it must do all it can to safeguard its seats and that of its component parties. But in the face of competition from a well-organised and disciplined PAS and a passionate and dynamic PKR, it seems unlikely that Umno can easily regain the lost ground of Malay votes.

Hence, against this backdrop; the non-Malay votes in Peninsular Malaysia and in Sabah and Sarawak become pivotal for a strong Barisan Nasional. It is therefore in Umno's own interest to bring about a transformation and give MCA an effective and credible role in the Malaysian political landscape. We need the new MCA leadership to articulate this reality to Umno.

MCA does have inherent strengths

When the new Umno leadership is settled - hopefully by next March - MCA must argue decisively there is a shared future between the two parties. If Umno continue to be arrogant and insistent on ‘ketuanan Melayu’, MCA can 'turn out the lights' within a decade.

liou chen kuang dap lai meng chong mca machap n8 by election The demise of MCA will also bring an end to Umno’s or BN's reach to the Chinese community; throwing all the Chinese votes into the welcoming arms of PKR and DAP. MCA has inherent strengths which can be put to effective use; it has a very broad-based membership, over 1.3 million members, a matured organisation and network throughout the country.

The Chinese-based party has over RM1 billion in party assets and a long history - many Chinese in Malaysia still would like to see the MCA return to play an effective political role to advance the national agenda.

Umno's ego is also bruised by the defeat of March 8 with some quarters in Umno still not having recovered from the humiliation of their defeat; while many are also finding it hard to adjust to the new likelihood of a total loss of power.

The Umno leadership and grassroots must be handle with care and patience; if MCA wanted to show the Chinese community its bravery by "dare to get angry and dare to speak up (gan nu gan yan), then we are treating the disease with the wrong medicine.

This is a time one should want to avoid strong language such as ‘negotiate’ but choose words such as ‘reason’ or ‘communicate’. MCA doesn't need ‘bravery’ it needs ‘strategy’, more so now than at any time in its history.

The birth of MCA 2.0

Any informed Malaysian knows too well the future of this country lies in a meritocracy-based public policy system. Our common future rests in a strong and competitive Malaysia. Our public policy must ensure that all citizens are successful; and it is okay for some to be more successful or get rich quicker than others, regardless of race.

Umno and Malay Malaysians must be reminded that from each successful Malaysian - be he or she Malay, Chinese or Indian - the government can take up to 27% stake of their fruits of labour depending on the individual or business tax structure. Malaysia will do well to grow this value-creation process because it is long-term and sustainable, and not to count on depleting natural resources such as oil and gas for our national revenue.

mca 2008 party post contest ong tee keat ong ka chaun chua jui ming chua soi lek The new MCA leadership has this all-important task to bring about the transformation in BN's policy direction. Nothing more should be said of the New Economic Policy or National Development Policy; all efforts should channel to develop the potential of Malaysians so that each and everyone can become self-reliant, generating value for the nation.

We need not remind each other of our misgivings - stop the old talk, start the new talk; assure and inspire people to succeed. It takes only a government of the people, by the people and for the people to do that. Engage the media, especially the ethnic vernacular media, and get them to stop playing on ethnic issues.

The new MCA leadership must have a clear mission in the next decade; along with the reform-minded colleagues in BN to undo the present government of some people, by some people and for some people.

Reasoning with Umno and getting the rest of the East Malaysian partners to embrace the national agenda and a common future for all Malaysians will help give birth to a new MCA, or MCA 2.0.

Ethnic parties can still exist

An ethnic-based party can champion a national agenda; MCA's founding fathers have long advocated and worked on such a national vision. The party must return to that root and take the first step to demonstrate to Umno and other ethnic-based parties to switch off the talk on communal interests.

MCA must begin earnestly working on the competitiveness of Chinese Malaysians in particular, and all Malaysians in general. There isn't too much left before the old stock of wealth depletes and society collapses into despair.

We hope the 2,200 delegates at the MCA party election on Oct 11 have the clarity of issues and a clear sense of direction for the party's transformation. The new leaders they elect must inspire hope and confidence that they have full grasp of the political reality and have deep conviction to embrace a common future for all Malaysians.

These men and women, besides moral courage and conviction, must have strong capabilities in cross-cultural communication and an ability to assure and inspire the Malay populace that MCA is capable of adding value to BN. Leaders of the past decade succeeded in doing things right but fail to uncover what is the right thing to do.

The new president must have a strong sense of what is right or wrong and committed to doing the right thing for the nation in the long run. He must inspire respect, must be gentle but firm, visionary and very Malaysian in outlook.

Advocating a new vision for MCA starts with Umno and the Malay population; the new team must be able to network with and build a strong relationship with Umno and the new generation of Malays; and to be able and ready to articulate a new national vision.

Yesterday: MCA a 'penumpang' in BN

FOONG WAI FONG is co-founder of Pahlawan Volunteers , an advocacy and volunteer group who played an important role in the Nipah virus crisis and the Visit Malaysia Cybercampaign of 1997. She is also the director of Megatrends Asia, and best-selling author for 'Megatrends Asia' (with John Naisbitt), 'The New Asian Way', 'We have to talk, Mr Prime Minister', and 'Culture is Good Business'. Join Pahlawan, click here .