Extra Cabinet posts won’t help MCA regain clout, analysts say

MCA leaders with Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak (third left) at the MCA general assembly in October last year. Being under the shadow of the dominant Malay party will continue to put the Chinese component in the Barisan Nasional coalition at a disadvantage in its efforts to win the trust of the community. – The Malaysian Insider pic, August 13, 2015.Senior ruling coalition party, MCA, might have gained two additional ministerial posts in the recent Cabinet reshuffle, but it still has a long way to go before regaining support from Malaysians, including its core group of targeted supporters, the 6.9 million Chinese community.

A key member of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN), MCA has its work cut out even with the additional government posts, if it wants to regain its former stature prior to the watershed 2008 general election when the coalition lost its customary two-thirds majority in Parliament.

While some point out the benefits of more Cabinet posts, these may not help it shake off its core image problem, that of being subservient to its Malay ruling partner, Umno.

Further, MCA has remained largely silent on national issues at a time when many, including from within Umno, are criticising the government, especially on debt-ridden state investment firm 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

"MCA may be able to gain back some support from these two portfolios, but the main crux lies in its ability to make a stand on national issues," said Tang Ah Chye of the Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Chinese Assembly Hall.

"MCA has remained silent on the latest issues surrounding Najib and the disruption of investigations into 1MDB," he said, referring to the political pressure mounting on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak over problems stemming from 1MDB, his brainchild, which is being probed for alleged financial scandal.

"On the whole, MCA seemed to be more of a bystander and doesn't seem to have much to say," Tang added.

The GE12 in 2008 saw MCA only winning 15 federal and 32 state seats. It was further debilitated in the following general election in 2013, garnering only seven parliamentary and 11 state seats.

Beset with internal bickering and a leadership tussle, it then decided not to take up any government posts, only for the decision to be overturned nine months later when Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai took over the party's reins.

Four months later, MCA was awarded two ministerial and three deputy ministers posts. Liow is now the Transport Minister.

Last month, it was given a third ministerial post and a deputy minister's post in a Cabinet reshuffle, which saw the other main BN coalition party, MIC, losing its second Cabinet post given after the 2013 general election.

MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan was appointed as International Trade and Industry Minister II while youth chief Senator Chong Sin Woon was made the deputy education minister.

While this is Chong's first stint in government, this latest appointment marks a comeback for Ong, who previously served as the Housing and Local Governments Minister from March 2008 to April 2009 during Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's administration.

Both Ong and Chong's new portfolios are considered important to MCA as their portfolios – trade and education – are two sectors close to both the party's and community's hearts.

No clout in government

Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Hua Zong) president Tan Sri Pheng Yin Huah said as much when he noted Ong's post would pave the way for smoother business links between Malaysia and giant trading partner China.

“Our economy is tied closely with China’s. Having a Mandarin-speaking minister, who is also well-versed in Chinese culture, will further smoothen the relationship between both countries. Ong is a suitable man for the job,” Pheng was quoted as saying by The Star recently.

But Malaysians at large do not relate to the appointments and Centre for Policy Initiative (CPI) director Dr Lim Teck Ghee said such a sentiment would not help the party.

In a harsh assessment, he said the additional posts do not add up to any increased clout in government policy making or implementation.

It is only a "public relations exercise", he noted, saying that as long as Umno called the shots in BN, other allies are just part of the "window dressing" to give the appearance of a multi-racial coalition.

"The party, as with the other BN parties, are now caught in the dirty linen and ripple effects of the 1MDB fiasco although its leaders do not appear to have any thing to do with it.

"The fact that the party has largely maintained a diplomatic silence over the issue, it will also be held against it. But most important of all, most Malaysian Chinese are feeling the economic pinch and, rightly or wrongly, are looking at the government as the main cause," he said.

This was echoed by University of Tasmania Asia Institute director Dr James Chin, who said that while Chinese groups may welcome the appointments as it allowed them easier access to government, ordinary Malaysians were likely unperturbed.

"Ordinary Chinese do not care about MCA. They see MCA as a toothless tiger," he said.

CPI's Lim said the message from the Chinese community since the 2008 national polls was clear – they had given up on MCA, and by extension, BN, unless Umno returns to a less-racially skewed agenda.

"I am not sure that rejection of the additional posts will bring about much change in the prevailing antipathy towards the MCA. The party still has pockets of support among the older generation of voters.

"But its role in propping up what is regarded by most younger Malaysians as a corrupt and crony ridden system means that it will continue to lose ground," Lim added.

- TMI