Press statement by the MCA Central Committee (17 March 2019)

In the Spirit of Consensus

Following from the 14th General Elections of May 9, 2018, the landscape of Barisan Nasional has changed. Very swiftly following from this defeat, the various component parties, their leaders and members alike embarked on respective reflections, trying to chart a path forward.

The party's dramatic loss of public trust for over the decades came to a point of obscurity in the crushing General Elections. The party convened at its 65th general assembly last December and adopted a resolution proposing that the MCA Central Committee be empowered to begin the process dissolving BN and forming a new alliance.

In the recent Barisan Nasional Supreme Council meeting on March 8, MCA, led by President Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong tabled the proposal of dissolution. However, a consensus was not reached on the dissolution. MCA acknowledges that this reflects  the reality of a political union that was once formidable and formed on the basis of multiculturalism for all Malaysians. That in this challenging time, the spirit of consensus remains alive.

It is a fact that UMNO and PAS have formed a partnership. Nonetheless, when a BN component party pursues partnership outside the coalition, it must not forget to adhere to BN’s code of consensus and diversity. Mindfulness of the fundamental differences that exist between PAS, MCA and MIC needs to be taken into consideration for the benefit of the coalition. 

UMNO, MCA and MIC must safeguard the spirit of consensus and the constitution. A common consent must exist between opposition parties to put our strengths together for effective checks-and-balances especially in the topics of the people’s economy and livelihood.

Now, we have reached a fork in the road; and we can pick only one path. The first path: MCA leaves BN behind, and allow Umno-PAS’ partnership to become the framework of the opposition, where a Malay-Muslim majority opposition is pitted against a more diverse ruling coalition. The second path: MCA stays in BN and strengthens the premise of multiracial cooperation; ensuring diversity remains a crux in the opposition.

The MCA Central Committee chooses to stay in BN. MCA must do all it can to safeguard the multiracial premise within BN; to prevent race relations to tilt towards Malays against non-Malays. The value of diversity must never be sidelined in any side of the political spectrum.

Some may even perceive this decision as “politically incorrect”, and we acknowledge that it is detrimental to our popularity. But, MCA believes that to create a more democratic, benign, diverse and moderate political environment; this is a choice we have to make. It is going to be a tough road ahead, we are aware of that, but we are ready to face it with character and fortitude.

MCA Central Committee

-MCA Online-