Friday, March 26, 2010

Litmus test for MCA

MCA has come to a crucial point of facing the "litmus" test whether it can stay relevant and be resilient to the changing political landscape.

Most importantly the question to ask is whether those elected tomorrow can really measure up to expectations of a leader with calibre to shape the future of the 61-year-old party.

The battle lines have been drawn which will see the clash of the titans where heavyweights Ong Tee Keat, Chua Soi Lek and Ong Ka Ting will vie for the coveted president's post.

With less than 24 hours to go, most of the 2,378 delegates would by now have made up their minds who to vote for.

Although most leaders who are contesting the 31 positions claimed that they do not have any "cai tan" (menu list of candidates), such lists actually do exists and are a tightly kept secret until the final polling day where such lists are distributed.

An appointed person of the respective divisions is normally delegated to do the job of dishing out the list discreetly.

The lists are passed to the delegates at the 11th hour on polling day itself to avoid sabotage and deter possible attempt to influence any changes to the menu list.

Delegates would normally be asked to congregate at a specific place on polling day where they are passed the "cai tan".

In previous elections, it is known that delegates are also given an "ang pow" which they termed as allowance so that it would not be construed as an act of bribery.
ong-chua-ong-mca 
Subservient to Umno

Where the money comes from is unknown and no one questions its origin. It is the norm that delegates will quietly take the "cai tan" as well as the "ang pow" and walk away.

Whether delegates are so caught up with the "cai tan" culture, they must bear in mind that their votes should not represent theirs alone but that of a consensus from their respective 4,295 branches and 191 divisions nationwide.

The selection of leaders and what they stand for is most crucial in shaping the destiny and acceptance of the party especially when its candidates have to face the people during the 13th general elections.

Each vote will reflect whether the delegates are endorsing a vote to reject influence from outsiders or submit to the "kow tow" culture (to bow down) and subject the party to slavery of sorts to their masters.

In short, do the delegates want to vote for an independent MCA or an MCA which has to bow down to the "ketuanan Melayu" philosophy.

A central delegate said it will be doomsday for the second largest component party in Barisan Nasional if it bows down to the "ketuanan Melayu" philosophy.

He said the 1 million member strong party will be reduced to mere puppets and each and every of its movement will be at the mercy of the Master.

Just like a puppet, its limbs and arms are all strung up and it will not have the ability to move on its own, not able to even talk or have its own right to move or make decisions.

This is because every action of the puppet is "dictated" by its Master. With just a slight jolt, the puppet conforms to the action as required.

The party had paid a heavy price for being subservient to Umno in the March 2008 general election where it won only 46 seats - 15 parliamentary and 31 state seats out of the 140 it contested.

Delegates should wake up to reality and face reality with sincerity, honesty and integrity and reject temptations of money to sell their soul for short term gains.

It is no point winning the battle now but lose the war later. — Malaysian Mirror

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