MCA must not hesitate to condemn outside encroachment

Ronnie Tan
Dec 23, 09
5:12p

Christmas is here. A season of peace and goodwill. But sadly for MCA, there is no peace. No goodwill. Nothing but sadness. Very sad indeed.

We have a gang of clueless renegades ruthlessly attempting to sabotage MCA and desperately trying to collect 21 signatures of the elected Central Committee members (CC) to stage fresh elections. They must be kidding.

You might think I've gone off my rocker and maybe I have. But someone has to speak up. I hardly recognise MCA anymore. President Dwight Eisenhower once said: 'You don't lead by hitting people over the head. That's assault, not leadership'.

But that is precisely what this trio of Liow Tiong Lai, Wee Ka Siong and Chew Mei Fun are attempting to do - to bludgeon their MCA President Ong Tee Keat and take control of the party.
Why are we in this mess? How did we end up with this crowd in the CC? Well, the central delegates voted for them - or at least some of them did.

But I'll tell you what we didn't do. We didn't agree to stop asking questions or demanding answers. We didn't agree to suspend the MCA constitution. And don't tell me it's all the fault of Ong - that's an intellectually lazy argument and it's part of the reason we're in this mess.

But here's where we stand. These are times that cry out for leadership. I have news for Liow Tiong Lai and gang. We didn't elect you to sit on your bottoms and hijack our independence, democracy, constitution, honour and greatness and to be replaced by mediocrity. Give us a break. Why don't you and gang show some spine for a change?

Courage in the 21st century doesn't mean posturing and bravado. Courage is a commitment to sit down at the negotiation table and talk. And taking a position even when you know it will cost you votes. Leadership is forged in these times of crisis. You don't have to run to outside forces with our internal disputes.

It only shows you are a coward when your world comes tumbling down. MCA must not hesitate to condemn outside encroachments whether they are perpetrated by the past leaders or outside powers. The overwhelming informed members and the Chinese community know that Umno will not be at rest until an 'obedient client' rules MCA again.

One must know you can't expect to win cooperation by calling people evil. You don't have to talk tough in order to be tough. You don't go knocking on the head of your buddy of two decades. That's not what democracy is all about.

So far Liow Tiong Lai and gang have been unable to be specific about what they will do in order for us to get confidence in him. Making inroads in elective politics should not lead to an unnecessary intoxication of power. Misplaced empowerment is dangerous. Those who yearn for power but are not ready for it, when empowered, may resort to actions beyond proportions.

The learning curve from a political secretary to member of Parliament, deputy minister to the lofty position of a full minister is wide and gaping. Time and adversity collectively become the best teachers. Therefore taking and making time is a well-advised alternative.

But for Liow Tiong Lai, Wee Ka Siong and Chew Mei Fun, they seem to be people in a big hurry. They and their plotters in silhouettes and vignettes in the background are ready to plunge their daggers into the heart of Ong Tee Keat.

But I am certain that the Chinese community and Malaysians in general would not find the betrayal in good taste or palatable, Ong certainly did not deserve the treatment unleashes by this headline-grabbing and power-crazy trio.

That's why we members take it personally when Liow Tiong Lai tries to ruin a man who speaks his mind fearlessly for the party, community and nation.

In spite of all these excruciating experiences, Ong Tee Keat has not changed his positioning. He continues in his relentless search for the common good. His door for Liow Tiong Lai to come back to the fold is always open.

He said recently, 'It is just plain crazy to stop talking to people you disagree with. As long as you keep talking, there is hope'.

Ong Tee Keat is right. If you are the MCA president, your ideas have to be bigger than your friends. So what we MCA members should do about our enduring love affair with MCA? Let us push for Key Performance Indicators for our MCA leaders. It is supposed to gauge the performance of the MCA leaders and their public office.

Short of meeting their KPI repeatedly, they should invite themselves through the exit door without further hints or taps on the shoulders. This is the most gentlemanly of all overtures, globally. No more linkages in terms of reasoning and excuse.

Emotional appeals and crying openly on TV of how one is never short of the best of intentions only to be a let down by reality simply does not hold water anymore. Our members and the Chinese community are already too clever for that.

Now the future of the MCA is at stake. I am only trying to light a fire. I am speaking out because I have hope. I believe in MCA. I believe in building a better future for our children.

Democracy isn't a spectator sport. We all have a role to play and I am going to ask you to get involved. Let us bring back the leadership we deserve. It's not too late but its getting pretty close.
So let's shake off the detractors and go to work. Let's tell them all we have had enough.

Won't you join me in this crusade?