MCA polls: Belling the cat

As with most observers, I am still wondering what the fuss is all about in the run-up to MCA's party polls on October 18. Both presidential contenders, Ong Tee Keat and Chua Jui Meng have been rattling their sabres, of course. There has been much heat and light generated in the process.

Any Taoist sage looking at the MCA sandiwara would be rolling down the mountain with hysterical laughter at the theatrics that contain little of true substance.

One of the key issues should be the process to change the MCA from a Chinese Malaysian political party to a multiracial Malaysian party. On this key issue both Ong Tee Keat and Chua Jui Meng are dancing and skirting around with more panache than a prima ballerina on hot charcoal! Neither candidate are truly prepared to place the proposal for MCA to convert into a multiracial party on the agenda. They only spew some platitudes about how it is necessary for the BN, as a whole, led by UMNO, to move towards multiracialism.

Basically, the issue being thrown at the members and delegates is a choice on which of the two candidates is WHO can stand up to UMNO. Who has the larger titanium cojones to stand up to UMNO? It is, for the want of a better phrase, a testicular war, not a contest for the multiracial soul of the MCA or, Malaysia, for that matter. It is a contest that is long on rhetoric but short on substance.

If Ong Tee Keat and Chua Jui Meng truly believe that MCA is not ready for multiracialism; if they believe that MCA's members would prefer to wait for UMNO to take the lead in any move towards changing their party constitution to move towards multiracialism; and, if it is true that MCA members prefer to be race-based - then, all talk of reform is just talk. And, it merely confirms that the electorate was correct to reject the MCA candidates on March 8.

The most exciting issue on the table is to amend the party constitution to ensure that the general membership has a direct say on electing candidates. This is pure parochialism. It ignores the March 8 debacle. It shows a group of leaders bereft of genuine national ideas. It reeks of gradualism and incrementalism at a time when true leaders stand up to call for quantum leap changes. This is a broad symptom shared by ALL BN component parties bar none. It shows that political in-breeding truly does create idiot genes. There is no real renewal or, reform here. Nothing to see. Nothing to show.

In response to both Ong Tee Keat and Chua Jui Meng's talk about standing up to UMNO, I merely reiterate one of Aesop's Fables, Belling the cat:

Long ago, the mice had a general council to consider what measures they could take to outwit their common enemy, the Cat. Some said this, and some said that; but at last a young mouse got up and said he had a proposal to make, which he thought would meet the case.

"You will all agree," said he, "that our chief danger consists in the sly and treacherous manner in which the enemy approaches us. Now, if we could receive some signal of her approach, we could easily escape from her. I venture, therefore, to propose that a small bell be procured, and attached by a ribbon round the neck of the Cat. By this means we should always know when she was about, and could easily retire while she was in the neighbourhood."

This proposal met with general applause, until an old mouse got up and said: "That is all very well, but who is to bell the Cat?" The mice looked at one another and nobody spoke. Then the old mouse said:

"It is easy to propose impossible remedies."

Postscript: A good commenter Madcow was kind enough to point me to Chua Jui Meng's new website here.

Belling the cat

Dr Chua Soi Lek appears to have thrown the gauntlet at Ong Tee Keat. The kid gloves have come off. In his terse latest blog entry with a grammatically challenged title, Candidates should not only pretend to speak our for the community, he sounded exasperated with the mainstream media (MSM) (which, by the way, echoes what the rest of us knew for many decades).

The source of possible MCA presidential candidate, Dr Chua's ire was the statement made by Ong Tee Keat that the MCA may pull out of the BN over the ketuanan Melayu issue. This statement was reported only in Nanyang Siang Pau. All other MSM, be they vernacular or Bahasa Malaysia or English, appeared to have regarded the statement as not being newsworthy!

This led Dr Chua to infer that the statement was meant for Chinese-educated eyes only since no one, certainly not UMNO, appeared to be aware of such a strongly worded statement from Ong Tee Keat, who is a declared MCA presidential aspirant. The Sun reported on this issue today.

Some MCA history to be recalled
The issue framed by Dr Chua is interesting as it is long overdue. Most Malaysians, not just Chinese Malaysians, have regarded the MCA as an emasculated novice eunuch to UMNO's imperial throne. The emasculation is not recent. I give you 2 pivotal events long, long ago:

First, between 1951 and 1956, Tan Cheng Lock was torn between leading MCA into an alliance with UMNO or, ally itself with the Independence of Malaya Party led by Dato' Onn Jaafar. Many historical records show that Tan Cheng Lock was actually leaning towards the IMP. But this move was thwarted by the likes of TH Tan who, eventually exposed himself as the errand boy of the Tunku. If ever there was a Trojan horse in MCA, TH Tan may well fit the bill.

Second, by 1959 the restive MCA members led by Dr Lim Chong Eu mounted a successful challenge against Tan Cheng Lock. The plank that Dr Lim rode on was a more assertive MCA in relation to UMNO. The records show that Dr Lim was forced to resign as MCA President due to pressure asserted by UMNO.

I believe that it is also a sad testament to the lack of true democracy in the MCA that Dr Lim Chong Eu's portrait does not appear in MCA's pantheon of presidents in Wisma MCA. This attitude towards true history and, attempts to re-write history, is another tragic feature that typify Malaysian politics. (By the way, I stand corrected. Dr Lim's portrait was put up some years ago. A commentator was kind enough to point this out. Thanks)

Wasn't it George Santayana who said, "Those who ignore history are destined to repeat it"?

Belling the cat
I want to keep this entry short. Though Dr Chua's views may be coloured by his present political aspirations, we should not dismiss it. He has tried to frame the future direction of MCA in the context of MCA's relationship with UMNO.

But, in so doing, he must surely realise that to the rest of us who are neutral on MCA, he, like all leaders and followers in MCA (we might as well throw MIC and Gerakan into this milieu) is still conducting a discourse and debate within the context and parameters set and fixed by UMNO. How can genuine party reform take place in such a myopic setting?

And, so, I end by inviting you to read another one of Aesop's Fables entitled, Belling the cat.

MCA: Chua-Chua vs Ong-Ong?

In the upcoming MCA party polls the contest for the posts of President and Deputy President appears to have aligned party stalwarts, Chua Jui Meng and Dr Chua Soi Lek (both of whom are erstwhile Health Ministers) against Ong Tee Keat and Ong Ka Chuan.

This contest for the top 2 party posts comes in the wake of MCA's debacle in the March 8 General Elections that saw many of MCA's parliamentary candidates topple. It was likely a case of negative sentiments against the present BN leadership. More significantly, it also signalled that the Chinese community could not find any resonance with the crop of MCA leaders.

Ong-Ong

In his MCA career, Ong Tee Keat has come across as an independent who has deftly steered the choppy waters of MCA's factional politics. He has also been able to parlay his giant-killing reputation (if you call defeating an old, tired and controversial Datuk Harun Idris a giant) to reach across to non-Chinese constituents with his fluency in Bahasa Malaysia. He has been able to retain a loyal core of support within MCA. His independence is likely to have attracted the attention of supporters of the lacklustre Ong Ka Ting. Ironically, some may see Ong Ka Chuan endorsement of Ong Tee Keat as a signal that the latter has entered into a Faustian pact that goes against his independent streak. In other words, lately Ong Tee Keat has been placed in the unusual position of appearing to be part of the MCA Establishment. By the way, Ong Tee Keat's blog is here.

As for Ong Ka Chuan, his behind-the-scenes reach to core MCA grassroots support is generally credited with gaining the party presidency for his younger brother, Ka Ting. But, in the wake of the March 8 debacle, an overtly MCA Establishment figure like Ka Chuan will have to transform himself into a reformer; unless he does not believe that MCA needs any reforming. This is something many will be measuring him by. Again, the issue may well be, how can Tee Keat claim his independence when he is endorsed by an Establishment figure? Can they both reconcile this? Will MCA members buy it?

Chua-Chua

Chua Jui Meng retired from active MCA politics when his challenge against Ong Ka Ting for the MCA presidency in 20045 failed. But, as with all things circumstances change. Jui Meng may wish to project himself as a leader who can reposition MCA to send a clearer message to UMNO on the need to dial-down ethnic-based policies in favour of multiracialism on the premise that meritocracy and income-disparity are better measures in formulating government policies. UPDATE: (7.20 p.m. 21/9/08) Read the report and interview in Sin Chew Daily.

If this is the case, then Jui Meng may be able to find some additional commonality with Dr Chua Soi Lek. Dr Chua has positioned himself as a vocal proponent of multiracialism. Many MCA members have found his candour refreshing. Dr Chua's dignity in handling the video-tape scandal episode has found him a significant groundswell of sympathy and respect. Add to this the lurking suspicion that he was set-up by party opponents, it is not surprising that one of the MCA parliamentary candidates that survived March 8 was his son. This victory can be interpreted as public support for Dr Chua's leadership and integrity. Cynics may say that he made the public confession of being the man in the video in the hope that all would be forgiven quickly and, he could resume his ministerial and party posts, only that things went awry. But many others will point to the fact that he quickly read the public mood and did the right thing by resigning to widespread public acclaim. Dr Chua's blog is here.

Future portents

A cursory view suggests that Ong-Ong runs the risk of being tagged as the business as usual combination. If not addressed quickly, this tag will be the albatross on the neck for Ong-Ong. But Ka Chuan's control over the MCA party apparatus, as the current Secretary-General, gives him very distinct advantages of incumbency. That reach is very effective and powerful. It is not to be underestimated at all. In fact, it gives Ong-Ong a distinct edge.

Chua-Chua are in an interesting position for being rank outsiders in this contest despite their previously having been Establishment figures. Their challenge comes at a time when the MCA is in ebb tide. Members are in some degree of disarray. The party is finding no resonance with the Chinese community let alone the wider Malaysian community. Lim Guan Eng of DAP has become the Chinese community's superstar, deftly handling state issues and multiracial issues without losing touch with Chinese community issues. Guan Eng's positive and high profile as Chief Minister of Penang puts the leaders of MCA (and Gerakan) in a terrible light.

Is this a case of MCA leaders projecting their hubris replete with lighting and smoke special effects but within the sterile environment of the Chinese Malaysian community? This was the accusation made by Dr Chua against Ong Tee Keat recently. Are the MCA like crew members fighting for captaincy of a sinking ship? I don't think so. The MCA may be injured today. This has happened before (recall the General Election of 1969). That it will survive is not the issue.

The real issue may well be whether the successful candidates can truly engage UMNO in a mutually beneficial cross-fertilization of multiracialism. Indications from March 8 is that the Malaysian polity is shifting inexorably towards non-communal multiracialism where meritocracy and income-disparity are the core issues but, where extra attention is paid to the Malay community by virtue of their population size. But can MCA do so successfully? Read my views in an earlier post entitled, Belling the cat. If not, will MCA leaders have the courage to decouple? These may well be the future issues. UPDATED INSERT (3.50 pm, 21/9/08): For some further context to my point, read Sin Chew Daily's report, Where Should MCA Be Headed To?

Right now, the cynic in me tells me that it's all about cutting, thrusting and stabbing (front and back). Such is politics...anywhere.

PRS: Umno is a bully, so is PBB

Malaysiakini reported about the Balleh PRS publicity chief Beginda Minda's complaint that UMNO is a bully. By so doing, this politician who is a minor position holder in a branch or division of a minot BN component party joins the chorus that includes the ex-MCA President Ong Ka Ting.

I think it is poppycock.

These guys have the courage of a churchmouse. If the component parties truly want to make a serious point they shouldn't ask little boys and girls to do a man's job.

Roll out the big guns and have a serious four-eyed talk with UMNO. Otherwise, it goes back to my many postings about Aesop's fable about Belling the Cat.

There's enough hot air to fill up several hot air balloons.

There. I've said it.