My view on 'more seats for Sabah MCA'

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=519776
Bernama / 8-August-2010


The request for more seats is reasonable, and fair.

It has been long overdue as what Chua had said that MCA is already 20 years old in Sabah, and it was then one of the loyal BN components in Sabah, before and after, the toppling of the then PBS government. Its contribution for the BN regaining the power in Sabah can not be denied and taken for granted.

However, MCA must first resolve all the many, long accumulated, and overdue issues in Sabah in order to be convincing that it deserves the seat.

The woes or problems are, most notably and namely - the medical services and the transportation services. These woes are required to be handled in greatest urgency politically before the next general election, if I may say so.

Both portfolios are under its cares - Datuk Liow Tiong Lai and Kong Cho Ha for health and transport respectively.

Apart from these two important posts in the federal government, MCA also has other important cabinet posts that have been affecting the livelihood of Sabahan to some extent, that is, the Ministry of Tourism headed by Datuk Dr. Ng Yen Yen, and she should be able to help tremendously for Sabah's long term economy.

There are other portfolios which MCA have been assigned in the federal government are Minister of Local Government and Housing, Deputy Education Minister, Deputy Finance Minister, Deputy Youth & Sports Minister, Deputy Women & Social Welfare Minister, and Deputy Home Minister respectively.

If MCA is really serious in helping the Sabah people, or vice versa, the various mentioned MCA men in the government can undoubtedly be very helpful.

But, its significance role in the government at the federal level has not been felt much here, and MCA should find out the reasons for its 'dismal' performance, and also of the negative public perception of its role in Sabah.

Is it the leadership problems, or lack of working funds?

The answer is likely to be the MCA leadership problem - from the central all the way down to the state, and the divisional levels.

Perhaps the new style of high-profile (politic) publicity emphasized by the leadership can help in elevating the image of the party somewhat among the people at large. Nevertheless, the MCA candidates are still subjected to the people scrutiny considering that most urbanites are mostly very educated and well informed on various issues and topics.

MCA must earn its respect in Sabah by truly contributing, and people will appreciate it if it's done. The MCA leadership in Sabah needs a lot of fundamental change, or transformation, in meeting the new challenges ahead in Sabah; especially with the new emphasis of high-profile politic as championed by Datuk Dr. Chua Soi Lek, the President of MCA.

By the way, the attitude at the central must also change too. The circumstances in Sabah is different from the Semenanjung. The leaders of MCA at the central must read well the 20-point, the historical document which is one of the key basis of the formation of Malaysia, before they understand the real political implications they have to face in Sabah.

Sabah MCA has been practicing the low-profile, quiet politic in the last 20 years. It's high time to change but not without the needed changes in its leadership's quality and performance. New technology and methodology, and young professionals, must be brought in to support the high-profile politic, without which, it would be disastrous for Sabah MCA.

It should also show the people of Sabah of its long-term commitment in Sabah by having its own MCA building in Sabah, just like what UMNO and Gerakan did.

MCA thus have a lot to do to catch up in Sabah now that if MCA is serious about the seat allocation request.

The likely seat that the BN in Sabah has to allocate is likely to be from the quota of one of the existing UMNO seats, or those currently held by SAPP.

Finally, Sincerity is the key to success for the future of MCA in Sabah.

The ball is now with MCA itself, and not MUSA or Sabah BN.