Media statement by M.Kula Segaran in Ipoh on Thursday, 23^rd September 2010:

The question is, can MCA deliver if it cannot change its "in office but not in power" position in the BN government?

Yesterday, MCA President Datuk Chua Soi Lek said that DAP has been relying on the same political tactic to gain support for more than 30 years by criticizing and issuing statements on various issues but which yield no results.

If it is true that DAP does not produce any results, why have the voters, especially majority of the Chinese voters have consistently supported the DAP in the past general elections? Why have they chosen not to support MCA?

Dr Chua has also said that DAP will always claim that MCA has no influence despite being BN's second largest component party if there is no allocation for Chinese schools, but when funds are allocated, DAP will claim credit.

Let me ask Datuk Chua Soi Lek two questions.

Firstly, is it not true that MCA is still "in office but not in power"? Is it not true that this phrase was coined by a top MCA leader to describe MCA's position in the BN government?

Secondly, is speaking up for the people inside and outside Parliament and State Assemblies not a responsibility of the elected representatives?

The voters have supported the DAP because DAP has been an effective voice of the people and has been making demands and speaking for the people, inside and outside the Parliament and State Assemblies.

This is something that either the MCA cannot understand or it simply refuses to accept.

A political party that does not speak for the people and champion their rights and interest will not be trusted and supported by the people.

MCA should accept the fact that it has suffered severe electoral debacle in the last general election simply because it has failed the people.

If it truly wants to regain the people's support, it must know what the people want and be able to deliver, not merely to promise.

The question is, can MCA deliver if it cannot change its "in office but not in power" position in the BN government?

* M. Kula Segaran, DAP National Vice Chairman & MP for Ipoh Barat