‘Dissolve Barisan’
Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says he will respect MCA’s decision to leave the alliance. But MCA wants the coalition dissolved.
Soon after removing the matching grant for TAR UC, the Finance Ministry has dealt another blow to MCA – no more allocations for Kojadi, prompting the party president to ask: ‘If this is not revenge, what is?’
KUALA LUMPUR: The MCA wants Barisan Nasional to be dissolved, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
The MCA president said the party’s central committee had been authorised to pave the way for the move and to form an effective alliance.
Dr Wee said this to reporters after the party’s 65th annual general assembly at Wisma MCA here yesterday evening.
Together with Ummo and MIC, MCA formed the Alliance party and fought for the country’s independence in 1957.
In 1973, the Alliance was renamed Barisan Nasional with other parties joining in the coalition too.
Dr Wee said the consensus by the three founding parties – Umno, MCA and MIC – was needed for the coalition’s dissolution.
“MCA is grateful to the people of all ethnic groups who supported us, and would cherish the spirit of power sharing and co-existence during the early stages of Barisan’s founding.
“We firmly believe that the sincere and united cooperation of all ethnic groups is the cornerstone of national development,” Dr Wee said.
However, he said Barisan was now experiencing a serious power tilt after a long period of ruling the country. And each of the component parties needed room for self-reflection, review and reform.
“In order to revive and restart, Barisan must be disbanded with the full understanding and consensus of component parties, so that there is room for freedom in carrying out innovations and reconstruction,” Dr Wee said.
He said re-establishing a political alliance would be at an appropriate time when there would be consensus in the concept and principles held.
The 69-year-old MCA is the second largest component party in Barisan, after Umno.
The coalition, which had ruled the country since independence, lost power to Pakatan Harapan at the 14th General Election on May 9.
Barisan went into GE14 with 13 component parties. It is now down to only four – Umno, MCA, MIC and myPPP.
Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has yet to comment.
However, an aide said the Umno president had yet to receive the news of MCA’s decision.
It is learnt that MCA intends to bring the matter up with Barisan Supreme Council members.
Earlier, Dr Ahmad Zahid said Barisan would respect MCA’s decision if it should leave the coalition.
“I have yet to receive any official decision from them (MCA) but we will respect whatever they decide to do,” he said at a meeting with Barisan senators at the coalition’s headquarters at the Putra World Trade Centre earlier yesterday.
Dr Ahmad Zahid said even if MCA were to leave Barisan, the coalition had plans in place to win back Chinese votes.
“I don’t want to elaborate on what these plans are but we know that not all Chinese support the party which is now part of the present government,” he said in a vague reference to DAP.
Dr Ahmad Zahid also dropped hints at creating a more diverse alternative party, saying the people wanted one that could work well with Barisan.
However, it is not clear if this party would fill the void after MCA’s departure.
Dr Ahmad Zahid also said Barisan was ready to work with other Chinese-based political parties.
“There are many that are ready to work with us.”
MIC president Tan Sri S.A. Vigneswaran lauded MCA for empowering its central committee members to work on the party’s decision.
“It shows that the party leadership still commands respect from the delegates, who could have just wanted the party to leave.
“But they are letting the party leadership decide how to start the process, including on forming a new alliance.
“It is a good process, where there is time to make changes,” he said yesterday.
Vigneswaran said MIC would continue to work with MCA.
“MCA has been like a taiko (big brother) to MIC throughout the years,” he added.
In Kota Kinabalu, MCA’s move came as no surprise to Barisan’s component parties there, said PBS information chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
In Ipoh, Perak Barisan chairman Datuk Saarani Mohamed said there was no forcing any party to stay or leave the coalition.
“Any relationship must be sincere and come from the heart,” he said.
Perak Gerakan chairman Datuk See Tean Seng said it was hard for him to comment on the move as they were no longer with Barisan.
He, however, said other component parties should have their say in this.