The Lonely Fight

There seems to be no end to the predicament that is spelt as MCA right now. Political jostling for the much coveted top two posts is also distastefully evident with the contrasting statements given by the Central Committee (CC) as well as the thinly veiled shoving off by the CC members of the top incumbent, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Kiat (DSOTK).

It can be argued that the current president was initially the benefactor of the deep-rooted division in MCA; his neutral stance as well as his outspoken and 'lone ranger' image earned him the respect but not the adoration of his partymen. And so it was felt that DSOTK was the better alternative than the representative from the opposing camp.

With all these motive undercurrents whirling in MCA, it is of no surprise that the recent MCA Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) yielded the result it did; the delegates are in summary, not happy with the conduct of the CC headed by DSOTK. The climax of this ugly game also comes at the heels of the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal which implicates Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (DSTKS), the Chairman of the Barisan Nasional (BN) Backbenchers' Club.

Anticipating the sorry situation the president is in, the generals have now turned onto their leader with the hope of making a quick kill. DSOTK, realising that his lead of the party is all but over now faces the lonely task of ensuring the bickering of his charges does not result in an implosion of the party, a worse outcome than the laughing stock that the MCA currently is.

As a chief partner in the BN administration fold, the discerning rakyat are surely looking at this situation with dismay. As a Malaysian Malay Muslim, I am in the view that the current MCA is a liability for the ruling coalition, concurring with the feedback I received from a friend, a year ago.

However, the spirit of togetherness that defines us Malaysians should be no more obvious than now; it should be us who facilitate the mending of the relationship of our neighbours. Therefore, it is important that we show our concern on the need to end this feud quickly and offer our help should it be needed.

Having said that this gesture to mediate must not be taken as a way to interfere with our neighbours internal matters. Worse is statements that is intended to sway public opinion for or against parties in the conflict.

At the end of the day, everyone should realise that turmoil benefits no one.

Kind regards and Wassalam