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A FACTION within the MCA said to be aligned with former party vice-president Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker, is reportedly pushing to exit Barisan Nasional (BN) immediately to pursue a greater share of electoral seats and target Malay voter support from PAS and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).
However, UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said MCA’s leadership remains hesitant, fearing a repeat of the humiliating defeat suffered by Gerakan president Datuk Dr Dominic Lau Hoe Chai in the recent Bayan Lepas state election.
“UMNO's Malay vote base offers more certainty. The Lian Ker cluster wants MCA out of BN so the party can contest more seats, banking on support from PAS and Bersatu voters,” Puad wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday.
“But MCA leaders worry the same fate that befell Dominic Lau may befall them,” he said, referring to Lau’s loss in the PAS stronghold despite campaigning side-by-side with the Islamist party.
Puad argued that both MCA and MIC lack confidence that joining Perikatan Nasional (PN) would translate into meaningful support from Malay voters, especially those loyal to PAS.
Ti Lian Ker previously criticised MCA’s current leadership for lacking direction, contrasting it with MIC, which he said had taken clearer steps to act independently and not merely serve as a decorative component within BN.
He warned that failure by the MCA central leadership to resolve this internal dilemma could lead grassroots members to chart their own course.
“UMNO has already demonstrated that it no longer waits for BN consensus when making major decisions,” Ti said, pointing out that MIC, through its secretary-general, has also declared that it will not wait for MCA to act.
The brewing discontent and internal pressure reflect ongoing realignments within Malaysia’s post-GE15 political landscape, as smaller component parties grapple with relevance and influence amidst shifting voter loyalties. - Sept 7, 2025