As Mca Mulls Bn Exit Pas Comes Knocking With Mooncakes

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While MCA considers leaving BN, PAS MP Dr Halimah Ali was sighted bringing mooncakes to the Chinese-based party's headquarters.
In a Facebook post from yesterday, she shared pictures of herself at Wisma MCA handing over a large mooncake to party representatives.
"Mooncakes symbolise togetherness, harmony, and family unity in Chinese culture, because their round shape resembles the full moon and symbolises family.
"PAS is friends with all races and parties. In conjunction with the upcoming mid-autumn festival, I presented mooncakes produced by the Kapar PAS national unity committee to representatives from MCA at Wisma MCA," she said in her post.
PAS, an Islamist party that is largely unpopular with non-Muslim voters, has previously made moves to court MCA and MIC, another BN component party.
On Aug 31, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man invited the two parties to join forces, noting their disappointment at being left without representation in the government.
Shortly after, Gerakan president Dominic Lau said he had no problems if MCA and MIC decided to join Perikatan Nasional, adding that his party had been consulted beforehand.
Resentment
MCA and MIC have expressed resentment at being sidelined amid BN lynchpin party Umno's cooperation with Pakatan Harapan as part of the federal government.
PAS MP Dr Halimah Ali presents mooncakes to a Gerakan representativeMIC has said that it will make its decision to leave BN independently of MCA.
By mid-September, four MIC state chapters approved resolutions to compel the party to quit the coalition, while reports of the party having informal talks with PN swirled.
As for MCA, its former president, Dr Chua Soi Lek, said in August that the party should leave BN if the coalition sticks to the rule that only allows incumbent parties to contest the seats they hold in the next general election.
Chua had already suggested that MCA should leave BN after its disastrous showing at the 2018 general election.
Future direction
Before that, in June, MCA secretary-general Chong Sin Woon said the party leadership would review all division-level resolutions before deciding on the party’s future direction, possibly by tabling related motions at its national AGM on Nov 2.
Throughout that month, MCA divisions nationwide held annual delegates meetings, with many passing resolutions rejecting any form of cooperation with DAP.
Some divisions even supported calls for MCA to exit the Madani government, go solo in the next general election, and leave BN altogether.
In response, BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi assured that MCA and MIC will be allocated seats to contest in the 16th general election, in an attempt to calm the two component parties. - Mkini

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