Wee Ka Siong’s press conference following MCA’s walkout in Melaka exposes the party’s humiliating position within Barisan Nasional. By his own account, seats previously contested by MCA were negotiated away without the party’s agreement, while a candidate announcement was arranged before he had even submitted MCA’s nominees.
What clearer admission could there be that MCA has no meaningful say in BN? UMNO decides who gets the seats. MCA is expected to turn up, accept the arrangement and applaud. Even its president’s consent appears to be an inconvenience that can be bypassed.
This is the consequence of MCA’s years of playing yes man to UMNO. UMNO behaves like a big bully because MCA repeatedly shows that, however loudly it protests, it will ultimately fall into line.
Now, UMNO has gone further by effectively “kasi bungkus” seats previously contested by MCA to accommodate its electoral arrangement with PAS and its allies. A longstanding coalition partner is pushed aside to make room for a renewed political partnership.
Wee’s response is to lead a walkout and declare that MCA must live with dignity. But unless that walkout produces a firm political decision, it amounts to political theatre.
MCA should also remember its own words. In September 2018, its then president Liow Tiong Lai said MCA would seek BN’s dissolution or UMNO’s expulsion if UMNO formalised an alliance with PAS. That position was presented as a defence of moderation and BN’s founding principles. Where does that commitment stand today?
Is MCA opposed to UMNO’s partnership with PAS on principle, or only unhappy when that partnership costs MCA seats? Would a few additional constituencies suddenly make the arrangement acceptable?
If MCA still has the dignity Wee speaks of, it should leave BN or act on its former president’s declared position by seeking the coalition’s dissolution. It cannot keep threatening resistance while accepting the same treatment.
Wee says the MCA president is still here. He should prove that his party can make an independent decision. Otherwise, this walkout will be remembered as another performance of outrage before MCA returns to say yes.