MCA gesa Umno jangan bangkit kemarahan bukan Melayu
MCA memberi amaran Umno hari ini agar lebih berhati-hati dalam ucapan dan tindakan supaya tidak membangkitkan kemarahan bukan Melayu dan mengatakan pengundi Cina tidak akan kembali kepada Barisan Nasional (BN) jika pemimpin hanya memperjuangkan bangsa tertentu sahaja.
"Keadaan ini akan memberi kesan atau memusnahkan masa depan BN," kata bekas ketua Pemuda Datuk Wee Ka Siong (gambar) dalam ucapannya di perhimpunan agung tahunan Pemuda MCA menjelang pilihanraya sayap itu hari ini.
Selepas pilihan raya umum Mei lalu, Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak telah menyalahkan ’tsunami Cina’ terhadap prestasi buruk BN dengan mengatakan bahawa beliau tidak menjangka dipinggirkan oleh masyarakat Cina.
Beliau juga menyalahkan Pakatan Rakyat (PR) yang didakwa memainkan sentimen perkauman untuk menarik sokongan daripada kumpulan etnik kedua terbesar di negara ini .
Penilaian Najib kemudian diambil dan diterima pakai oleh pemimpin-pemimpin Umno yang lain.
Pada pilihan raya umum ke-13, Umno muncul pemenang terbesar dalam BN, dengan berjaya memenangi 88 daripada 133 kerusi persekutuan dan berjaya mengekalkan kerajaan.
Sementara MCA, sebuah parti kaum Cina yang juga rakan komponen kanannya pula mendapat keputusan buruk. Ia berjaya memenangi tujuh kerusi Parlimen dan 11 negeri, yang berkurangan berbanding jumlah pada pilihan raya umum 2008 iaitu 15 persekutuan dan 32 kerusi negeri.
Dua hari selepas pilihan raya, Umno melalui akhbar rasminya Utusan Malaysia menyiarkan satu artikel bertajuk "Apa Lagi Cina Mahu", dan beberapa siri berita dan rencana kaum Cina ingin melemahkan kuasa politik Melayu, walaupun telah diberi peluang oleh kerajaan untuk memperoleh kekayaan mereka.
Bagaimanapun menurut penganalisis politik, Pakatan Rakyat menembusi bukan sahaja dengan kaum Cina tetapi juga orang Melayu, terutamanya di bandar.
Bekas Ketua Pengarang Kumpulan New Straits Times Datuk A. Kadir Jasin menyoal dalam blognya: "Apakah tidak mustahil ia sebenarnya bukan 'tsunami Cina ' atau cauvinisme perkauman, tetapi tsunami Malaysia berdasarkan realiti dan aspirasi baru generasi muda".
Wee berkata sebuah kerajaan yang mahu memenangi hati rakyat perlu berkhidmat semua pihak dan bukannya berasaskan sesuatu kaum sahaja.
"Kerajaan perlu meletakkan keperluan rakyat sebagai keutamaan dan bukannya mengemukakan sesuatu dasar mengikut kepentingan satu kaum atau menghukum kaum yang lain, sama ada sengaja atau tidak disengajakan, terutama sekali kepada kaum Cina."
Beliau memberi amaran bahawa masyarakat Cina tidak akan menerima layanan sebegitu dan MCA juga akan menentangnya.
"Walaupun kebanyakan orang Cina curiga terhadap MCA, MCA akan terus berjuang untuk kepentingan mereka dan juga kepentingan kaum-kaum lain," katanya.
Beliau menyeru para ahli membuktikan kepada masyarakat bahawa parti itu, yang telah menghadapi krisis dalaman beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini, mampu bersatu dan maju ke hadapan agar menjadi relevan dengan melakukan transformasi berserta tindakan yang benar-benar konkrit.
Salah satu caranya, beliau mencadangkan, adalah menjadikan parti berusia 64 tahun itu kembali "muda" dengan memperkenalkan barisan muka baru untuk mendapat sokongan lebih ramai belia. – 19 Disember, 2013.
MCA warns Umno not to stir non-Malay anger, will destroy Barisan’s future
MCA warned Umno members today to be careful in their speeches and conduct so as not to stir non-Malay anger, saying that Chinese voters will not return to Barisan Nasional if Umno's leaders championed a particular race.
"This situation will affect or destroy BN's future," outgoing youth chief Datuk Wee Ka Siong said in his speech at the MCA Youth annual general assembly, ahead of the wing’s polls today.
In the aftermath of the May national polls, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had blamed BN's poor showing on the "Chinese tsunami", saying that he had not expected the wholesale abandonment by the Chinese community.
He also blamed Pakatan Rakyat’s alleged play on racial sentiments to woo support from the country’s second largest ethnic group.
Najib's assessment was then taken up by other Umno leaders.
At the 13th general election, Umno emerged the biggest winner within BN, with 88 out of the 133 federal seats the ruling pact managed to retain.
Chinese-based MCA, its senior coalition partner, fared the worst. The party ended up with only seven parliamentary and 11 state seats, down from the 15 federal and 32 state seats it had in 2008.
Two days after the polls, Umno mouthpiece Utusan Malaysia published on its front page an article titled “Apa Lagi Cina Mahu” (What more do the Chinese want), and ran editorials accusing the community of undermining Malay political power, despite being given opportunities by the government to earn their riches.
Political analysts, however, said Pakatan Rakyat made inroads not only with the Chinese ground but also into Malay areas, particularly urban seats.
Former New Straits Times editor Datuk A. Kadir Jasin had asked in his blog: “Is it not possible that this was not a ‘Chinese tsunami’ or racial chauvinism, but a Malaysian tsunami based on new realities and aspirations of the young?”
Wee said a government that wants to win over the people has to serve the interests of all instead of those of a single race.
"The government needs to put the needs of the people first and not come up with policies based on the interest of one race or punishing another race, whether intentionally or unintentionally, especially towards the Chinese," he said.
Wee warned that the Chinese community will not take such treatment lying down and MCA too would oppose it.
"Although the Chinese is suspicious of MCA, MCA will continue to fight for their interest as well as the interest of other races," he said.
He called on members to show to the people that the party, which had been racked by infighting in recent years, can unite and forge ahead and be relevant again by transforming itself with concrete actions.
One of the ways, he said, is to make the 64-year-old party "younger" by introducing fresh faces to get the support of the youth. – December 19, 2013.
Wanita MCA: Cina tidak patut dihukum kerana tidak undi BN
Pengundi Cina tidak seharusnya dituduh tidak patriotik hanya kerana mereka tidak mengundi Barisan Nasional (BN) dalam Pilihan Raya Umum 2013, kata Wanita MCA hari ini dan menambah parti itu mampu mengembalikan keyakinan masyarakat itu kepada kerajaan jika diberi masa.
Ketua Wanita MCA, Datuk Yu Chok Tow, berkata masyarakat Cina patuh kepada undang-undang dan sudah menunjukkan sikap patriotik mereka dengan membayar cukai dan membantu pembangunan ekonomi.
“Pertama, pilihan seseorang sama ada untuk menyokong atau mengundi parti pemerintah tidak seharusnya disamakan dengan sikap patriotisme,” katanya dalam ucapannya di Mesyuarat Agung ke-38 Wanita MCA di Kuala Lumpur, hari ini.
“Jadi, tidak ada sesiapa harus menuduh Cina Malaysia tidak bersyukur atau tidak patriotik hanya kerana pilihan mengundi mereka,” katanya dan menegaskan mengundi bukanlah satu-satunya tanggungjawab masyarakat.
Beliau berkata demikian sebagai mengulas pencapaian terburuk MCA dalam PRU13 apabila sebahagian besar masyarakat Cina tidak pengundi parti itu dan BN.
Bagaimanapun, katanya, beliau yakin MCA boleh memenangi semula sokongan masyarakat Cina jika lebih banyak usaha dilakukan. – 20 Disember, 2013.
Wanita MCA: Don’t punish Chinese for going anti-BN
Wanita MCA: Don’t punish Chinese for going anti-BN
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 20 — Chinese voters should not be accused of being unpatriotic for voting against the Barisan Nasional (BN), Wanita MCA said today as it insisted that it may be able to regain the community’s trust over time.
Wing chief Datuk Yu Chok Tow said the Chinese are law-abiding citizens who already show their patriotism by paying taxes and helping to develop the economy.
“Firstly, a person’s choice of whether to support or vote for the ruling party or not should not be equated with patriotism or the lack of it,” Yu said in her speech at the MCA women wing’s 38thannual general meeting (AGM) here.
“Therefore, no one should accuse the Chinese Malaysians as being ungrateful or not patriotic simply on the basis of their voting choice,” she said, before stressing that voting was not the sole duty of citizens.
Her speech today comes following MCA’s worst-ever polls performance in Election 2013, where a large part of the Chinese community deserted the party and the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.
But Yu, however, appeared convinced that MCA would be able to win back the Chinese community if the Chinese-based party puts in more effort.
More to come
Outgoing MCA Youth chief slams Umno for racial extremism
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 19 — MCA's outgoing youth chief Datuk Wee Ka Siong rapped Umno leaders today for their alleged show of racism towards the Chinese during the party's just-concluded congress, and warned that this could lead to a permanent loss of non-Malay support for the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN).
In his speech at the MCA Youth wing annual meet here, the former deputy minister said although the country's second largest ethnic group had not supported the ruling coalition in the May 5 general election, it was wrong for the Umno-led government to punish the community by leaving them out in development policies.
"I want to advice Umno leaders to be more careful in their speeches and their thinking so that it does not move towards extremism.
"If they are dissatisfied with the Chinese voters who did not support BN in the 13th general election and therefore sideline the fight to protect just one race instead of all, I believe this would lead to the Chinese support, as well as all non-Malay support, never returning to BN," Wee said in his opening speech of the wing's annual general meeting.
The outgoing youth chief's words appeared to reflect MCA's underlying anger towards its BN partner's growing right wing tendencies, which is seen as a key reason behind the drop in Chinese votes for the government.
Today will see MCA Youth delegates vote for a new leadership that will be tasked to spearhead the party’s transformation process and relive its former glory days as a party that best represented the country’s Chinese community.
But observers believe this could be a near-impossible target if MCA remains in BN, largely due to its affiliation with its partner Umno, a party that many among the Chinese feel would likely continue to thrive on racial politics to stay in power.
This, however, means that MCA may never be able to represent the Chinese effectively so as long as it remains in a coalition with Umno in it, which Wee pointed out in his speech themed “change, unity and action for the survival of the party” here.
“While we are rejecting racism, the government must win the trust of the people by ensuring that the people are prioritised, not draw policies based on the interests of only one race or punishing a race either intentionally or not, especially on the Chinese,” he said.
In the May 5 polls, BN recorded its worst ever electoral losses since its Independence, losing nine additional seats as well as the popular vote. Umno, however, emerged the stronger party in BN, adding seven federal seats to its tally and regaining Malay-majority Kedah.
Its leaders blamed it on a “Chinese tsunami” although research showed voting trend moved more towards a class and urban-rural divide where issues like corruption became the main sentiment that influenced the vote swing.
After realising that the issue was close to the heart of Chinese and younger voters, a key demographic, MCA leaders have tried to champion the anti-corruption cause.
Wee, who will be vying for the deputy president’s post in this Saturday’s party polls, touched on the issue in his speech, saying the party backs Putrajaya’s efforts to fight graft and supported calls for stronger laws to deal with corruption.
“What we want is effectiveness in enforcement of the law, whoever is involved in power abuse or corruption must be punished in court,” he said.
MCA had previously said that once its party polls is done, it will undertake immediate efforts for reform as it aims to regain Chinese and youth support in the run-up to the next national polls.
Wee said today that his party is now at a crossroad. To stay relevant, he said MCA must now “journey inward” and “find its own voice” that is independent of any external influences, a statement seemingly hinting at Umno.
The outgoing MCA youth chief said the wing must remain a critical force at a time where voters are growing more sophisticated and demanding.
“All this while MCA youth have always been brave to act and be responsible, so now MCA youth must be brave to face this critical time when the party is in its most difficult times,” he said.
Other candidates vying for the top post, like presidential hopeful Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, have also voiced similar opinions - that MCA must now take a stand and change its ways or confront the prospects of extinction by the next polls.
Pemuda MCA perlu agresif kembalikan kegemilangan MCA, kata Liow
Timbalan Presiden MCA Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai hari ini menggesa barisan Pemuda MCA supaya tampil secara agresif untuk mengembalikan kecemerlangan dan kegemilangan parti itu.
Beliau mahu sayap parti itu mampu memikul tanggungjawab berkenaan demi merealisasikan misi meraih semula sokongan masyarakat Cina untuk masa depan parti.
Katanya Pemuda MCA bukan sekadar memainkan peranan barisan hadapan kepada parti, malah menjadi jentera sokongan untuk menarik dan membawa masuk muka-muka baharu.
"Kita semua sedar bahawa sekarang ialah titik perubahan hala tuju untuk MCA. Masa depan MCA sama ada gelap atau cerah, segala-galanya bergantung kepada kemahuan kita.
"Sebagai anggota Pemuda yang dahulu kala pernah mengharungi cabaran parti, saya tetap percaya kita mampu meneroka satu jalan yang baharu," katanya ketika merasmikan Perhimpunan Agung Pergerakan Pemuda MCA ke-49 di Wisma MCA, Kuala Lumpur.
Liow, yang merupakan calon bagi jawatan presiden MCA, berkata sayap Pemuda perlu bersedia menghadapi pilihan raya akan datang termasuk dengan menguasai media sosial untuk menyampaikan agenda dan pencapaian MCA, lebih-lebih lagi kepada golongan muda.
"Pemuda MCA perlu mendampingi golongan muda, khasnya mereka yang mengundi buat kali pertama atau kali kedua. Dengan pendekatan ini, kita percaya MCA akan mendapat semula sokongan pada pilihan raya akan datang," katanya.
Dalam pada itu, Liow menegaskan MCA enggan tunduk mengaku kalah, sebaliknya akan menguatkan semangat dan gigih dalam mencapai matlamat perjuangan demi kepentingan parti dan semua rakyat, khususnya masyarakat Cina.
Walaupun prestasi MCA pada pilihan raya umum lepas kurang berpihak kepada parti itu, namun ini tidak boleh berkekalan kerana MCA perlu bangkit di persada politik tanah air, katanya.
MCA, tegas beliau, akan terus berpegang kepada hak bersuara dalam soal politik dan ekonomi, semangat hormat-menghormati dalam soal kebudayaan selain hak untuk pembangunan dalam soal pendidikan.
Sehubungan itu, Liow berkata sebagai pengerusi Jawatankuasa Transformasi MCA, beliau telah menyempurnakan laporan pelan induk transformasi parti itu yang akan dilaksanakan selepas pemilihan parti.
Pelan itu antara lain menggariskan bahawa MCA perlu mampu menjadi wakil semua rakyat serta memberi sumbangan dalam pelbagai bidang seperti politik, ekonomi, kebudayaan dan pendidikan.
Turut hadir Ketua Pemuda Kebangsaan parti Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong dan Setiausaha Agung MCA Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha.
Dalam ucapannya, Wee yang juga calon jawatan timbalan presiden, berkata tiga langkah iaitu berubah, bersatu padu dan bertindak perlu dilakukan ke arah mentransformasikan parti.
Beliau juga mahu semua pemimpin dan anggota MCA, yang menang atau kalah, bersatu dan berjuang dengan semangat berpasukan untuk menghadapi tempoh kritikal ketika MCA mengorak langkah mengembalikan kecemerlangan parti.
MCA juga akan membantu kerajaan memenangi hati rakyat dengan menggubal dasar menjaga kepentingan semua kaum supaya Barisan Nasional terus menjadi parti yang dipilih masyarakat, katanya. - Bernama, 19 Disember, 2013.
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