The president of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), Wee Ka Siong, has emphasized the party's readiness to forge its own path should any member of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition choose to establish new affiliations and leave their current allies behind. Wee stated that MCA is prepared to be "independent," even if it entails a fresh start.
During the party's 70th annual general meeting, Wee stressed the importance of MCA remaining a political entity rather than functioning solely as a welfare organization, a principle that dates back to the transformation initiated by MCA's founder, Tan Cheng Lock, in 1951.
Wee underscored that the political landscape shifted after the 15th general election (GE15), prompting a reevaluation of dynamics within BN's component parties. He acknowledged a departure from the previously held consensus among coalition partners.
However, Wee insisted that MCA must continue to collaborate with like-minded individuals across BN's component parties to pursue reform and uphold the coalition's fundamental values. He emphasized the need for MCA to make a robust comeback in mainstream politics in the upcoming general election.
"As the parties that were actively involved in the establishment of our country, we cannot forever be an affiliated member that is subject to others’ discretionary power," he declared.
Deputy president of MCA, Mah Hang Soon, echoed these sentiments in his address, ruling out the possibility of a "comprehensive cooperation" with the Democratic Action Party (DAP) at this juncture. Mah pointed out that MCA has long been the target of attacks and criticisms from DAP, and that there exists a substantial accumulation of negative sentiments against the party.
Mah contended that DAP still views MCA as a political adversary and tends to shift blame onto the party for their own shortcomings. Nevertheless, he suggested that if DAP were to align with MCA's principles, both parties could collaborate on specific issues to safeguard the interests of the Chinese community.
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