Voter perceptions of Umno’s arrogance also pulled down MCA in the March 8 general election, said MCA Youth chief Liow Tiong Lai.
In a recent interview, Liow said the traditional voter base - the Chinese community - had felt disenfranchised since the 2004 general election in which Umno secured a powerful position. “I know the situation very well. During Barisan Nasional (BN) Youth meetings, I talk with (Umno Youth chief) Hishammuddin (Hussien) and I tell them that people don’t like Umno because it has become arrogant. “Because of that, people don’t like MCA as well. Why? Because people are blaming MCA for being weak (and not standing up to Umno). So (being arrogant) is not good for Umno or MCA.”
In 2004, MCA had won a comfortable 30 out of 40 Parliament seats contested. This was slashed to 15 - the party’s worst ever performance - in the latest poll. At state level, it won only one-third of the 90 seats contested. One solution to ensure MCA’s relevance, said Liow, is to ensure that the party has a check-and-balance role within BN.
He said the party plans to engage Umno more and sensitise its leaders to the feelings of non-Malays. “People feel that Umno (has) become arrogant. When it is too powerful, (the people) feel that (Umno) ignores the feelings of other races,” said Liow, who is also health minister. “But we should be able to tell others that MCA is here and will stand up for them, that Umno has to respect our views.
That would be good (for the country).”He echoed the general sentiment among MCA leaders that the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back was the rhetoric and keris-brandishing at the last two Umno general assemblies. “We have told Hishammuddin about our feelings. He has explained his feelings via the newspapers and has apologised. He has to be more sensitive to the feelings of all the people. I think he knows that. “He has to be reminded that the feelings of all the races must be taken into consideration...
Umno cannot just think of the Malays when they do anything. No... they have to know the feelings of other races, then we can take a multiracial approach.”Liow said the BN was still stuck in an“old mindset” - in which Umno has the biggest say in issues - but that this would have to change.“MCA is prepared to change. We want Umno and MIC to change (as well). If all of us don’t change, (we will end up with) only one path and it will lead to a dead end. We will become irrelevant,” he said. “(The Chinese community) wants to see MCA, as the second-biggest party in BN, to check on Umno and balance the Malay political agenda. They want us to make sure that there is (national) stability and that we play a key role in BN.”
‘Tee is an old friend’
Asked to comment on lingering suspicion that he is involved in the MCA ‘snoop squad’, Liow brushed off the claim. The squad was allegedly formed to undermine the political careers of certain MCA leaders. “I think the investigation committee has cleared my name. I don’t have to clear myself. There is nothing to hide,” he said. The three-member inquiry panel had concluded that a key individual in the probe, Tee Ann Chuan (left), had been seen entering and exiting Liow’s former office in Putrajaya on several occasions. However, it could not ascertain the purpose of the visits.
“Yes, it is true that Tee came to see me in my (former) office (at the Youth and Sports Ministry). But he came to discuss youth activities and ask for my ministry’s help on youth matters,” he said. Liow described Tee as a old friend who had visited him often. He also denied that the latter had been given a room in the Youth and Sports Ministry complex. On the upcoming MCA polls, Liow remained non-committal about contesting for one of the top posts.“I’m a cabinet minister now. Should the party feel that I can serve it better, then I’ll consider moving (up),” said Liow, who refused to name any post that interests him.
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