Muhyiddin, now that's interfering!

Before I go any further, let me say that I am no MCA fan. I always view them as a bunch of old Kuomintang supporters and chauvinists rather than hard core Malaysians. Just like UMNO and MIC, it is always the me, me, me, me thingy. I have refrained from commenting on the current crisis involving the party as I just simply do not know where to start with the kind of mess they are in. But recently, things have started to happen in a most unethical way which they hope will bring the crisis to an end (or so they thought). When everyone seems to think he is smarter than they others and the poor party is being pulled into three directions with no referee overseeing the fiasco and all seems lost, have no fear. Here comes someone. Not an old stalwart of the party, not some respectable Chinese educationalists, not some influential Chinese trader, not some bigwigs from the Chinese chamber of commerce, but from ..... ta daaa ... Muhyiddin of UMNO! Why, why may I ask have this fella got to come in to settle scores for these bunch of Chinamen. The big question is, does the MCA constitution allow such an act to take place? So MCA is no longer the Malayan Chinese Association, but the Malay Controlled Association, because OTK, CSL, LTL, WKS and CMF have to take the cue from Muhyiddin? Since I am only conversant in the Cantonese and Hokkien dialects, this is what I have to say - moh min or boh bin (both means "no face" in Cantonese and Hokkien respectively).

UMNO and MCA It is an open act of meddling in the affairs of others by Umno for asking all MCA central committee (CC) members to step down to pave way for fresh party elections.

This is a clear cut case of open interference on the part of the big brother on its other component parties.

Like it or not, the so called advice given by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin recently smacks of direct poking of his nose in the affairs of MCA.

Muhyiddin who is on a special investment mission in Tokyo had told reporters there that the best solution was for the CC members to resign en-bloc to enable for a fresh election.

So far 13 CC members including MCA deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek had expressed their willingness to resign to pave way for fresh party elections. However at least 20 of the 30 elected members would have to resign to make up the two-thirds required by the party constitution for fresh elections to be called.

What's your vested interest, Mr DPM?

Muhyiddin went further to say that : “Everybody has got their vested interest but the most important is the vested interest of MCA as a party.”

I sincerely hope the Umno deputy president has a heart for MCA and does not have any vested interest himself by telling all elected CC members to resign.

If you trace back the problem which triggered off the interference of Umno in MCA, it started shortly after the truce plan between party president Ong Tee Keat and his estranged deputy Chua Soi Lek had buried the hatchet and came up with the Greater Unity Plan.

And instead of accepting the plan as a solution to the party crisis, vice-president Liow Tiong Lai and his two allies, Youth chief Wee Ka Siong and Wanita chief Chew Mei Fun embarked on a crusade to stir up problems which eventually opened the doors to Umno to have an excuse to come in to resolve the long outstanding problem in the party.

With the exception of these three rebel leaders, the rest including vice presidents Kong Cho Ha, Dr Ng Yen Yen and the majority of the CC members gave their blessings to the plan.

With Ong and Chua each commanding almost half of the 2,380 delegates support, it would be hard for Liow to ever dream of surviving his quest for the No 1 or No 2 slot in the party hierarchy, if he so wishes to contest.

Then it is best that Liow state his stand now whether he would be contesting any of the top two positions since he appears to be grappling for power.

Or else it would be an exercise in futility if fresh elections is called and there are no contenders in the end. Unnecessary energy, time and expenses would be wasted, not to mention the inconvenience of the party delegates having to travel to Kuala Lumpur.

Must be a clear distinction

A party delegate said Muyhiddin’s statement tantamount to telling another family what to do to resolve its own problems within the family unit.

He said there should be a clear distinction of what Umno can do and not do and that they should not be allowed to poke its nose with regards to party matters.

The delegate said Muyhiddin’s directive was an outright infringement of the fundamental rights of the party by another within Barisan Nasional.

He said whether Umno sees it right or wrong or in the name of the Barisan Nasional that it is giving such advice, MCA members must not sit still and allow such dominance by an outside force.

If this is allowed, the Chinese race will be reduced to mere puppets. If you have seen puppets strung up by strings, you know what I mean. Just one jolt, and the puppet will move accordingly. It will do whatever you so wishes.

The delegate asks: “Where will be our credibility and standing in society, if MCA were to be puppets and the strings are in the hands of outsiders.”

Do the Chinese want to succumb to be the slaves or puppets of others?