Mca S Presidency Succession Plan Imploding Leadership Crisis More Threatening Than Leaving Bn

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I HAVE just been asked by ASTRO to comment on UMNO supreme council member Datuk Dr Puad Zarkashi stating that the so-called Barisan Nasional (BN) big brother will continue to working with DAP in the next general election.
The Johor state assembly speaker went on to remark that MCA can leave BN if it so wishes to which I dismissed as premature and should first be discussed within the BN framework.
However, what is more impending and immediate is MCA continuing relevance as the largest political party representing the Chinese in name and in constitution.

In this context, the more immediate question that the party needs to look at is MCA’s leadership succession plan post the presidency of Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong. Is there a succession plan or even an election plan in place?
MCA has always been wrecked and destroyed by leadership crisis.
Tun Ling Liong Sik used to say the “fish starts to rot from the head”. From the years of Datuk Dr Neo Yee Pan–Tan Sri Dr Tan Khoon Swan crisis to Tan Sri Lim Ah Lek-Liong Sik and the Tan Sri Ong Tee Keat-Tan Sri Chua Soi Lek party leadership crisis, MCA has suffered irreparable damage in its repute and standing amongst the community.
Lacking transparency
Those episodes have always paralysed the party and paved the road to MCA’s electoral collapse when the people are tired of our infighting. These critical lessons must not be ignored if we have the welfare and interest of the party at heart.
With the tenure of party head honcho Wee being less than two years left, the leadership succession and transition planning is no longer an option – it is now a compelling duty.
We can no longer wear shades as the future for MCA is already dark.


The MCA president’s chair is very powerful and influential. The more than 2,000 central delegates are also very powerful and empowered to remove or retain the president by the constitutional process.
Their support has always been sought after by all leaders in every leadership crisis. We cannot ignore them during an AGM especially for an issue that is as compelling and immediate as the change of guards and essential need for leadership continuity.
The lingering question is why are we not being transparent? Why are we putting on political shades and making the constitutionally provided smooth leadership transition from the president to his deputy a political intrigue?
The delegates are already talking of the next president and are already positioning themselves. Some have already aligned themselves.
Destruction from within
I have witnessed MCA being destroyed and wrecked back in the 1980’s when I was invited to attend the “Save MCA” forum in Genting Highlands and the many other political forums at the MPPJ civic hall, etc.
I do not fathom another power struggle from within the party because the out-going president will choose the new president “to be elected” instead of following the natural constitutionally provided ascension whereby the deputy assumed the presidency if it is being vacated.
MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka SiongTo talk about open contests without anchoring the party stability is to invite another internal crisis and another open warfare. This is not in the interest of the party and is highly irresponsible and uncalled for.
The constitution has already expressly provided for the orderly succession through the deputy president if the president’s chair is vacated.
MCA and its leaders should be positioned to fight for its survival by a succession plan instead of being pitted to fight itself again by an “orchestrated election” or fast tracked to derail or deprive someone of an opportunity to lead the party.
We do not want to see the party being divided into camps via “the President’s Men” and “the Non-President’s Men” or Team A versus Team B as before. 
Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker was a former MCA vice-president and ex-youth and sports deputy minister.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKTt. 
- Focus Malaysia.

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