Saturday, May 24, 2008

MCA tough talk gets weak response

SINCE the March 8 general election, MCA has reinvented itself by taking a forceful position through a series of moves seen as populist. In a departure from past practice, the party is openly championing issues it previously said were best discussed behind closed doors. The party also convinced the Education Ministry to reopen the old SJK (C) Damansara premises by allowing Chinese schools with poor enrolment to be relocated there.MCA did all these to win back support from the Chinese community after the party's poor electoral performance. This new tough line is seen as being crucial to the party's relevance as it has been perceived over the years to be weak and "kowtowing" to Umno, a taunt chorused by political rival DAP.But is this a case of too little too late? Or is it better late than never?

MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn denied that this was a knee-jerk reaction."It's not a question of too late, but something that ought to be resolved as Malaysians feel strongly about it. There is no political motive on our part. "Obviously, people want MCA to be more vocal and we are responding to their demands. "We are resolving issues both ways, within the four walls (of the cabinet) and outside." He added that this was necessary since the people did not know that the party had in the past discussed the issues in the Cabinet.

2 comments:

2moresen said...

My heart bleeds for the few good men that the MCA has. The sacrifice, the altruism, the diligence ... to no avail, and obliterated, by the bad company it keeps. Every party in the BN seems to be saying "re-invent". Mind you, it is not going to work until those holding the reins of power can understand the true meaning of "government of the people, for the people and by the people..." It is really simple. The Cabinet and its ministers are servants of the people, elected to work for the people and paid for by the people. So how on earth is is possible for the people to be "anti-government" Workers do not accuse their employer of being anti employee, nor do workers send their bosses to detention camps or turn water cannons on them. There is no need for the MCA to re invent itself - it can go on doing what it has been doing to improve the welfare of the people as it has always done. What it needs to do though is to understand that because it wants to serve the people, it should include people who voted for the opposition are in the opposition. It is also time to give up the stand that the opposition is enemy. Government servants and public establishments somehow look at the opposition as illegals or outlaws. What is wrong with having a DAP person speak at a school sports day for example? What is wrong for the mainstream media to cover an event officiated by a PKR or a DAP person? I say, get off the high horse - kerajaan really should read as kehambaan.

Anonymous said...

What about the bold and big talks on the ISA reform/repeal? Won't any of you sign the petition?
Proves once again that the BN component parties are irrelevent. All the sandiwara on stance against the ISA must have been staged by the entire BN administration to deceive the Rakyat!
Clearly you 'chickened out' when it's time to walk the talk.
We, the rakyat should react in kind and turn away from you guys!