IN view of its close and subservient accommodation with the hegemonic elements in the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led government, it is little wonder that DAP is sometimes referred to as MCA 2.0.
In other words, how the MCA had in the past acquiesced to UMNO leaders in the Barisan Nasional (BN).
But I think it is unfair to think and act as though MCA is same old political party full of sycophantic leaders three or four decades ago. Much water has flowed under the bridge over the last two years or so.
MCA might not have much political clout compared to DAP in terms of parliamentary seats and others. But these days, the uni-racial party might not be same old subservient party that was once ridiculed by DAP over the decades.
Recent statements of the MCA leadership point in the direction of awakening to the political realities in Malaysia.
MCA might not be openly coming out to apologise to the Malaysian Chinese community for its non-representation. Moreover, it might already be too late for MCA to resurrect itself as a party that can effectively and honestly represent the Chinese community.
Because the MCA accommodated too closely with the Malay elites in the past, the second largest BN component party had to pay the costly price of alienating the Chinese community.
DAP-MCA’s role reversal
The Chinese voters’ desertion of MCA in droves to DAP is all too well known. Whether MCA can reverse the trend seems unlikely. However, MCA wants to redeem its image to be counted upon by the Chinese community.
This thinking might not be off the mark considering that DAP is committing a similar political hara-kiri as the MCA had done in the past.
The Chinese community might still support DAP but the support is never guaranteed. It is just that the Chinese have no political alternative to choose from.
Some sections might be deluded into thinking that DAP is the protector of the Chinese against ultranationalists represented in PAS and Bersatu in the PN.
I wonder how different is Perikatan Nasional (PN) from UMNO and PKR that DAP has placed its trust in. The fact is that despite its boasts, DAP is not in a position to advance the legitimate interests of the Chinese community.
In fact, DAP has reached a point where it cannot go back to its good old days of fiercely championing the rights of the non-Malays.
By closely accommodating to the Malay hegemonic interests, the party has basically given up in the fight for Malaysian Malaysia, the outcome of the famous Setapak Declaration.
Presently, DAP is termed as MCA 2.0. However, this might not be an apt description simply because MCA is slowly and surely shedding its old skin.
The recent statement by the party leaders that they would be critical of the Madani government if it strays from its objectives gives us some insight into MCA’s political metamorphosis.
It would be too premature to say that MCA is moving in the direction of assuming the role of DAP when it was in the opposition. But there are discernible signs that MCA wants to move beyond its past political entrapment.
Anyway, it is too early to judge MCA. One thing for certain is that the present MCA is not the old one. If DAP is called MCA 2.0, the reference is to the old subservient MCA of the BN era. – March 10, 2023
Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the Urimai (United Rights of Malaysian Party) Interim Council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
