The Malaysian Insight

FRESH from a stunning victory in Tanjung Piai, MCA will hold its annual general meeting (AGM) today with the matter of opening the party to non-Chinese members top on the agenda.

Soon after the win chalked up by Wee Jeck Seng, who gave the PH candidate a drubbing by more than 15,000 votes, the party announced a plan to amend its constitution to allow non-Chinese to join the party as affiliate members.

PAS is another identity-based party that allows those not of its core base to join the party. Non-Muslims may sign up, but as supporters without voting rights.

MCA also wants to amend its constitution to lower the membership age to 16 and to allow the party to suspend party elections until after the next general election.

This would enable the current leadership to stay on until around 2023.

But analysts feel that MCA, now more than ever, should be thinking up better policies to attract diverse Malaysians as members.

Former journalist and long time MCA observer Dr Chia See Kian said letting non-Chinese join up will not give the party much headway on the campaign trail as it gears for the next general election.

“This approach is only palliative as it does not really solve the party’s problem of not being attractive to other Malaysians,” said Chia.

Chia said it does not make sense for a non-Chinese to join MCA but not have any ability to determine the course of the party as they would only be affiliate members with no voting privileges.

He said the party needs to review its direction to seek the support of the Chinese community instead.

Former Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall analyst Tan Ah Chai said this change may not help them win back more Chinese voters.

“It is only a short term plan and is meaningless to the revival of the party.

“If MCA does allow non-Chinese into its fold, should the party then change its name from Malaysian Chinese Association to Malaysian Association?” he asked.

Southern University College’s Dr Thock Kiah Wah said ‘New Malaysia’ should be based on Malaysian first instead of race first.

“It’s an interesting move but it should be fully open to non-Chinese in the face of the new political situation in Malaysia,” said Thock, adding that allowing associate membership is not going to help much.

But he felt that the lowering of the membership age to 16 is a good move to encourage more youths to participate in politics at a young age. – November 30, 2019.