MCA would fare worse without BN, say analysts

November 6, 2023

MCA would fare worse without BN, say analysts

Akademi Nusantara’s Azmi Hassan said with only two parliamentary seats, namely Ayer Hitam and Tanjung Piai, both in Johor, and several state seats, the ethnic Chinese party does not have the strength nor capacity to go it alone in future elections.

He added that MCA’s uneasiness within BN was mainly due to the cooperation between Umno and DAP in Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government.

“Staying with BN might relegate them to a subordinate role, while going solo could prove even more risky as MCA would continue to struggle to gain the support of non-Malays.

“MCA must work harder within BN, not without,” he told FMT, adding that the party’s wins in recent general and state elections were largely due to votes from Umno supporters.

Last month, MCA president Wee Ka Siong said his party was prepared to chart its own path if any party in BN decides to officially form new ties and abandon its current allies in the coalition.

He said the party was ready to be “independent” even if it meant starting all over again.

“Most importantly, MCA must insist on being a political party and not a welfare organisation,” he said, during the party’s 70th annual general meeting.

Meanwhile, Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs said MCA must secure several more seats before proclaiming its readiness to chart its own course.

He said the party’s chances for political survival would be “virtually non-existent” should it decide to go solo at this point.