The Malaysian Insight

AFTER its defeat in GE14, MCA and Gerakan have lost their significance to the Chinese community, especially MCA, which has long claimed to be the community’s champions.

Chinese civil societies which used to beat a path to these parties’ doorstep have now turned to the ruling party, especially the DAP for help, say analysts.

“MCA and Gerakan are now opposition parties and have very limited political resources, so it’s understandable that Chinese groups now are turning to the ruling party,” said an Tang Ah Chai

The former Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall chief executive officer said DAP could not take the community’s vote for granted as it could swing back to the MCA and Gerakan.

Tang said the community has always been pragmatic, preferring to work with the ruling parties, and they now view DAP’s role as similar to MCA’s when the latter sat in government.

Social Analyst Koh Kok Wee said while DAP and PKR are not Chinese-based parties, the community will place its hopes in Chinese ministers or deputy ministers instead.

“The first choice is the Chinese leaders of DAP. But DAP is now more vocal about its multiracial nature, rejecting the notion that it is a Chinese party.

“So when it comes to Chinese issues, even though they need to address it, they cannot be seen as taking care of it too quickly, or that they are focusing on Chinese issues, but the Chinese community might not realise that,” Koh said.

Another analyst, Cheah See Kian also said that while the MCA no longer represents anyone, it is still too early to say if the Chinese community expects DAP to fill that role now.

“So far, if the Chinese community is in trouble, they cannot look for MCA or Gerakan, so of course they go to DAP, but DAP might not be willing. The Chinese community will have to look for another way to be represented.”

Going by the cabinet lineup, DAP has representatives in the Finance Ministry, Transport Ministry, Communications and Multimedia Ministry, Human Resources Ministry, Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Ministry, Plantations and Commodities Ministry, Defence Ministry, Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, Youth and Sports Ministry, Natural Resources Ministry, and others, holding even more posts than MCA at its peak.

This means DAP can meet the needs of the people on multiple aspects.

DAP is also holding several portfolios that were traditionally MCA’s or Gerakan’s, and therefore it is inevitable that those who sought MCA’s and Gerakan’s help before will now turn to DAP as well. – December 30, 2018.