Ph At High Risk Losing Chinese Indian Monopoly As Mca Mic S Loyalty Shift To Pn Gains Momentum

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THE possibility of the MCA and MIC joining the Perikatan Nasional (PN)-opposition coalition seems to be the hot political topic of the day.
PN leaders have welcomed the move as it would definitely improve their legitimacy in the eyes of the Chinese and Indians – never mind the fact that such a move might not necessarily translate into the required support.
From a symbolic stand-point, however, PN’s effort to entice both MCA and MIC into the opposition fold might represent a political setback for the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led coalition in general and the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition in particular.
Let us not forget that both these non-Malay component parties have been part of the BN coalition since the country’s independence. Over the decades, they have withstood numerous crises to remain under the BN umbrella despite UMNO’s dominance.

The current dissatisfaction within their ranks stems from two main issues.
Firstly, UMNO’s embrace of DAP – the party’s traditional adversary for decades – has unsettled both MCA and MIC.
For their own survival, UMNO leaders had no qualms about partnering with DAP, betraying the loyalty of MCA and MIC who had stood by them through difficult times.
Although MCA and MIC have not openly voiced their discontent, they clearly feel betrayed by UMNO’s opportunistic alliance.
Wooing MCA, MIC into PN fold
Secondly, neither party has been rewarded with positions in the Madani government. Despite Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s reported promises of appointments for MIC leaders, nothing has materialised.
Even minor positions in urban and rural councils have bypassed both parties.
If PN succeeds in weaning away these traditional BN partners, it would constitute a moral and symbolic victory. This explains why PN leaders have been quick to welcome MCA and MIC into their fold.

Still, while local leaders from both parties have hinted at leaving BN, the top leadership has yet to make a definitive move.
It could well be a tactical manoeuvre – using grassroots expressions of displeasure to gauge the reactions of UMNO and PMX.
So far, neither MCA nor MIC’s central leadership has openly declared its intention to abandon BN and join PN. It may be that especially the MIC leadership wishes to test the government’s response before taking a final decision.
The possibility of MCA and MIC walking away from their long and historic association with BN comes at a time when the opposition is consolidating a broader coalition to attract non-Malay support.
More specifically, PN’s plan to shape a two-front coalition – one appealing to Malays with the other to non-Malays – must have rattled the Madani government.

What once seemed impossible –   the very idea of PN gaining non-Malay backing – may no longer be far-fetched.
If MCA and MIC lend their support to the opposition, the PH-led coalition can no longer claim a monopoly on Chinese and Indian voters.
With Malay support increasingly drifting towards the opposition and Chinese and Indian backing for the ruling coalition on the decline, Malaysian politics may soon defy conventional labels altogether. 
Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.
- Focus Malaysia.

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