Umno has made its position for the next general election unmistakably clear, leaving MCA under growing pressure to choose whether it still belongs in Barisan Nasional (BN). The message was delivered bluntly when Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi urged MCA to stop waiting for further clarification and decide immediately if it intends to remain in the coalition.
Puad conveyed that Umno is set on contesting under the BN banner while maintaining its cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH), which includes DAP, in the coming GE16. He suggested that MCA’s recent posture has little to do with principle and more to do with political opportunity. According to him, MCA appears to be eyeing a route to rebuild Chinese support independently, especially after DAP’s collapse in the recent Sabah state election, where voters shifted their support to Warisan.
He suggested that MCA sees this moment as a strategic opening to challenge DAP directly and recapture lost ground among Chinese voters. This, he argued, might be the true reason MCA is distancing itself and signalling readiness to break away from BN.
Puad emphasised that Umno remains undisturbed by MCA’s resolutions, stressing that the party’s direction has been consistent — BN’s logo will remain the platform, while working relations with PH will continue into GE16. For that reason, he said MCA should not prolong its deliberations and must make its final call.
The Johor assemblyman also anticipated that MCA would grow louder in championing Chinese community issues should it choose to take its own political path. At the same time, he predicted DAP’s role within the unity government would evolve into that of a pressure group pushing for stronger reforms.
Earlier in the day, MCA delegates voted to reject any collaboration with DAP in GE16. They also agreed that the party would pursue its own direction if BN persists with plans to work with DAP, arguing such cooperation would signal the end of BN’s foundational spirit.
Meanwhile, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had already stated in July that the coalition intended to continue its alignment with PH in the next general election, despite ongoing calls for BN to contest independently.
BN’s role in forming the present unity government made it a critical force after the 2022 general election produced a hung Parliament, enabling Anwar Ibrahim to secure the premiership.
MIC, another BN component, is also weighing its future and has even approached Perikatan Nasional to explore potential entry into the opposition bloc.
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