KUALA LUMPUR — Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) would not suffer if MCA decides to leave the coalition, analysts say, warning instead that such a move would further weaken the Chinese-based party’s already diminished political standing.
Geostrategist and senior fellow at the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research (NASR), associate professor Azmi Hassan, said MCA’s grassroots pressure to withdraw from BN is unlikely to hurt the coalition, given the party’s limited appeal among non-Malay voters today.
“If even a dominant party like Umno is considered unable to stand alone and still needs political allies, it is even harder for MCA to go solo.
“MCA’s current dilemma isn’t because Umno is unwilling to give space, but because Umno must also answer to its own grassroots and support base.
“Umno is no longer as strong as it once was, and MCA used to feel powerful in BN because Umno was dominant, offering them significant positions and parliamentary seats.
“If MCA chooses to exit BN and operate independently, the move wouldn’t damage Umno or BN at this point, as the party’s contribution to vote share is marginal at best,” he told Scoop.
MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong earlier said the party leadership would consider feedback from grassroots members before deciding on its future direction.
He was responding to a recent motion passed unanimously at several MCA division annual general meetings, calling for BN’s dissolution.
Azmi added that MCA must now develop a fresh strategy to win back support from non-Malay voters, particularly those aligned with the DAP.
“MCA has its own think tanks, and they should focus on strengthening BN’s image so that Chinese voters feel comfortable supporting MCA again, especially given the current trend of voters gravitating towards DAP,” he said.
Meanwhile, Universiti Malaya political analyst Mohammad Tawfiq Yaakub said MCA is at its weakest point since its formation prior to Merdeka.
“This is due to a loss of confidence and a major shift in Chinese voter support away from MCA, starting from the 12th general election (GE12) and continuing to this day.
“Since GE12, MCA has not been as vocal or aggressive in championing Chinese community issues compared to its rivals such as DAP and various Chinese NGOs.
“In fact, MCA’s relevance has continued to decline — it only won two parliamentary seats (Ayer Hitam and Tanjung Piai) in GE15, clearly showing the party is fading from the political mainstream,” he said.
Tawfiq believes that in today’s political climate, MCA would be better off staying within BN and the Unity Government.
“This would at least open the door for future negotiations between BN and Pakatan Harapan (PH) ahead of GE16, allowing for the allocation of winnable seats to MCA that PH may otherwise avoid contesting.”
He cautioned that should MCA’s grassroots succeed in pushing the party out of BN, it would cast a darker shadow over its already uncertain future.
“MCA should take a cue from Umno’s leadership, which has firmly addressed internal dissent over its cooperation with the Unity Government.
“We’ve seen Umno win several recent by-elections under the BN banner — from Nenggiri to Mahkota — thanks to its partnership with the Unity Government parties.”
Tawfiq stressed that MCA does not need to exit BN to remain relevant. On the contrary, it must work within the government to benefit from shared campaign machinery, safer seat allocations, and reduced resistance from opponents in GE16.
“MCA cannot survive on its own, and joining Perikatan Nasional (PN) wouldn’t help either — they won’t gain significant Chinese support, which is currently dominated by DAP and the Unity Government.
“MCA’s leadership must demonstrate loyalty and patience in this new political landscape. Over time, space will be created for the party within government leadership.
“But if MCA acts rashly and leaves BN now, I fear the party could vanish from Malaysia’s political radar and fail to secure a single parliamentary seat in the next general election,” he said. — June 21, 2025
The post ‘MCA has more to lose than BN if it quits coalition,’ say analysts appeared first on Scoop.