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FORMER MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker has cautioned that the party may face renewed internal turmoil if its leadership transition is not carefully managed ahead of the next general election.
Responding to comments by UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Puad Zarkashi — who suggested UMNO intends to continue partnering with DAP while MCA is free to exit Barisan Nasional — Ti said such claims were “premature” and should first be deliberated within the coalition.
However, he stressed that the more urgent concern for MCA is the future of its own leadership, particularly as party president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong is nearing the end of his term with less than two years remaining.
“Planning for a smooth and timely transition is no longer optional — it is the party’s responsibility,” Ti said, warning that MCA’s relevance as the leading political voice for the Chinese community is at stake.
During MCA’s general assembly meeting over the weekend, Wee dismissed Ti’s call to identify who is the next in line as party president when his tenure ends in 2027.
Wee said the party’s general assembly was not meant to discuss his successor, pointing out that 13 important resolutions were debated and approved by delegates, covering politics, the economy and education.
“The assembly was not for us to approve (the deputy president as) the next president.
“When the time comes, we’ll hold a party election. For now, what’s more important is ensuring MCA’s survival and further strengthening the party,” he said at a press conference following the close of the assembly.
MCA has a nine-year term limit for the party presidency. Wee was elected to lead the party in November 2018 and defended the post in 2023.
Ti recalled that MCA has a long history of leadership conflicts that have severely hurt its credibility.
He referenced past disputes involving figures such as Datuk Dr Neo Yee Pan, Tan Sri Tan Koon Swan, Tan Sri Lim Ah Lek, Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, Tan Sri Ong Tee Keat and Tan Sri Dr Chua Soi Lek, saying repeated infighting had led to electoral setbacks and public disillusionment.
“These episodes weakened the party and contributed to its decline. We cannot afford to repeat the same mistakes,” he said.
Call for Transparency in Succession
Ti emphasised that the MCA constitution already outlines a clear line of succession, whereby the deputy president assumes leadership if the president steps down.
Turning that process into a political contest, he argued, risked dividing members into rival factions once again.
He also highlighted the influential role of the party’s more than 2,000 central delegates, urging leaders to respect their authority and maintain transparency about future leadership plans.
“To speak of an open contest without ensuring party stability first is reckless and could trigger another crisis,” Ti said, adding that MCA must focus on survival and unity instead of orchestrating internal power struggles.
Drawing from his own experiences witnessing factional battles in the 1980s, Ti warned that MCA cannot afford another split between competing camps.
“The party’s future is already uncertain. We must not further endanger it,” he said. – December 8, 2025