MCA is weighing its future in the BN coalition, with internal discussions ongoing ahead of its annual general assembly expected by October this year.
The move could mark a major shift in Malaysian political alliances, as MCA leaders and grassroots express growing dissatisfaction with UMNO’s increasingly warm ties with DAP.
MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong, according to a report by the Straits Times, Singapore, confirmed that the party is exploring several strategic options: remaining within BN, forming new alliances with parties such as MUDA or PSM, or potentially joining PN, which includes their former ally, Gerakan.
According to Straits Times, Wee confirmed that divisional delegate assemblies will talk about the future and direction of the party.
Nevertheless, he refused to anticipate or make a conclusion now on what the 191 MCA divisions nationwide will propose.
Sources indicate that MCA divisions in Johor and Pahang are leaning towards a breakup of BN from PH once elections are called.
But UMNO President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is seen favouring the continuation of the PH-BN alliance.
There is a growing unease in the BN coalition and it stems from what MCA views as UMNO’s preference for DAP, a party with broader Chinese community support, undermining MCA’s role within BN.
During the April Ayer Kuning by-election in Perak, DAP deputy chairman Nga Kor Ming and UMNO campaigners sparked controversy by chanting “UMDAP mantap,” a phrase combining the names of the formal rivals.
Originally used derogatorily by the opposition to accuse both parties of betraying their principles by cooperating, the chant was reframed to rhyme with “mantap,” meaning “solid,” in an apparent attempt to normalise their alliance. The incident further strained relations between MCA and UMNO.
That discontent could revive a reunion with Gerakan, which left BN in 2018 and is now part of PN.
As Malaysia’s political landscape continues to shift, MCA’s next move could reshape electoral dynamics, especially in mixed-ethnicity constituencies where Chinese votes remain crucial. —June 14, 2025
Main image: Malaysia Gazette
