Overcoming MCA’s Post-May 13th
1969 Syndrome (Flashback Part 2)
By Chua Jui Meng
AS
MALAYSIA’s democracy matures so too must the ideology and principles of our
Party. If our core values are no longer in line with our community then our
policies will become irrelevant in their eyes.
MCA
is increasingly seen as out of touch with the aspirations of the Malaysian
Chinese community and the nation in general.
We
are seen as being unable to influence key government policies and keeping
silent on matters that are important to the community and the rakyat.
The
MCA must set an agenda to rebuild a strong, democratic and transparent MCA that
represents the aspirations and values of our people.
Overcoming MCA’s May 13 Syndrome
On
March 8th of this year (2008) our Party was delivered a stinging
rebuke by our community and nation. We now fight for our survival, our very
existence.
We
need a commitment to change, to transformation. Transformation of OUR MINDSET
of a subordinate to Umno that prevents us from playing a more active role in
formulating and deciding key policies that impact our community and our nation.
Transformation
of OUR SPIRIT OF FEAR – that we will offend Umno and lose our positions and
privileges if we speak out against policies that are obviously detrimental to
the unity and development of our nation.
Transformation of OUR FOCUS, which due
to our mentality and our spirit has been focused on social and welfare
projects. Though these programmes are good, they should not be our Party
leadership’s priority.
Our
Party is a political party, first and foremost! We shall delegate it to the
Divisions and Branches to continue to improve on our service to the people, to
build up UTAR and our TAR Colleges, and to obtain scholarships for our nation’s
youth.
Our
leadership’s focus must be on major issues, on national policies. Enough of
being heroes of small issues!
Promoting Transparency and Democracy
I
believe that democracy thrives when we have a Party leadership that is
accountable to the Party, however accountability can only be enforced through
transparency.
Huaren
Holdings
We
need to introduce RULES THAT WILL ENFORCE TRANSPARENCY, for example that it
should be mandatory for the Huaren accounts to be published during the Party’s
AGM.
Currently
Huaren Holdings’ accounts are not transparent; members, leaders and Central
Delegates do not know how much profit we make a year, how much expenditures are
incurred and how the money has been spent.
We need to ensure that the Party’s
finances are being ably and fairly administered and distributed.
Furthermore,
now we need to provide financial assistance to our MCA comrades in Penang,
Selangor, Perak and Kedah, who having lost their state and parliamentary seats
are no longer entitled to MP or ADUN allocations for their constituencies.
We
need to also help our party members in Sabah, who until today still do not have
their own MCA state building.
Huaren
Holdings belongs to MCA, and therefore to all MCA members. Therefore, we should
ensure that A SIGNIFICANT PART OF ITS PROFITS IS DISTRIBUTED TO ALL THE
DIVISIONS to fund our activities as we seek to reconnect with the people.
Disciplinary
Committee
We
will also need to LIMIT THE POWERS OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE so that its
powers can never be abused to silence legitimate dissent within the Party.
Our
Party can no longer afford to ignore criticisms but must be brave enough to
hear all views.
Where are our members?
MCA
is increasingly becoming a hollow shell. Though we claim to have some 1.3
million members, however, during the General Election only a small fraction
comes out to campaign on our behalf.
This
is because most branches don’t know who or where their members are.
I ask every Division leadership, “How
many MCA members can you call up to help the Division during the General
Elections?”
If
the answer is 200, I would say that you are doing very well. However, this
means that we can only expect a maximum of some 40,000 members nationwide to
come forward to help MCA and the BN candidates.
We
need to undertake a nationwide campaign involving MCA Headquarters, State
Liaison Committees, Divisions and Branches to locate all our members, and
update and consolidate our membership database.
The
Branch Leaders need to actively interact with these members to inform and
explain to them the new vision and direction of the Party, so that they feel
included and motivated to support MCA’s vision.
When
we can locate and educate our members, we will then become a force to be
reckoned with and this will ensure victory for our candidates in the next
General Elections.
If
we can identify and educate 400,000 embers, then MCA will become a powerful
political force and at every General Election we will be able to call on
average 2,000 members in every Parliamentary constituency to help BN’s
candidates.
RETURN TO RELEVANCE
It
is not enough that we reform the internal culture of our Party but we must also
reach out and reconnect MCA with the community.
A
party in touch with the People
For
MCA to be relevant, we must tune in to the heartbeat of our people.
Nationwide
Tour
If
elected, I promise that in the first year of my Presidency I will CONDUCT A
NATIONWIDE TOUR to hear the views of our community.
This
will constitute a vital part of our exercise to realign our Party’s core
values. The ideas and concerns compiled will be tabled at the next General
Assembly.
Community
Hall Meetings
I
will also institute a practice for all our Divisions to HOLD ANNUAL COMMUNITY
HALL MEETINGS with the leaders of their community.
Our
goal will be to pick up on common threads of concern throughout the nation that
can be discussed and debated openly at the General Assembly.
Masterplans
for the Community
In
line with my 2005 election manifesto, I also pledge to CREATE POLITICAL,
ECONOMIC AND EDUCATION MASTERPLANS for the community, to be undertaken by INSAP
– MCA’s think tank.
I
will further empower INSAP by BRINGING IN THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST MINDS IN THE
COMMUNITY to help in creating these Masterplans.
We
must never forget that MCA is to the community as fish, but fish cannot live
without water.
Therefore,
I aim to create a political leadership that is in touch with the party, and a
party that is in touch with the people!
NEXT:
An active Voice of Change within the Barisan Nasional (Flashback Part 3)
