No News Is Bad News
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MCA just shameless, living in a world of its own
KUALA LUMPUR, June 22, 2023: See how the shameless lapdog MCA leaders are still behaving as “business as usual” in politics, refusing to face reality.
MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker described Umno Supreme Council member Lokman Adam of “sounding like a DAP mouthpiece” for criticising MCA and MIC.
Confirming their “Umno lapdog” status, Ti does not even dare to criticise Umno directly but use the DAP as its punching bag, which is nothing new nor surprising.
But what did Lokman say?
Lokman described MCA and MIC as liabilities in Barisan Nasional (BN) for their “continuous failure to secure votes” for BN.
Well, isn’t that a fact and true?
Ti and his party are just living in a world of their own, making MCA more and more irrelevant politically, by refusing to face reality and change.
After failing and losing all Chinese-majority seats in the last three General Elections (GEs), MCA still does not get it.
MCA has been soundly rejected in GEs, yet its leaders continue with its archaic politics of confrontation instead of changing to win back the confidence of Malaysians by contributing with ideas to heal the country’s economy which is saddled with more than RM1.5 trillion in national debt.
Even the Zahid Hamidi-led Umno is trying to change and is facing reality that Malaysians have found previous governments and prime ministers as irrelevant to the future of Malaysians.
And, why not? Fact: “It took three prime ministers (PMs) to transform Singapore into a world class nation. But nine PMs turned Malaysia into a 3rd class country!”
It doesn’t take the brain of a rocket scientist to conclude that currently, both MCA and MIC are politically irrelevant and where they stand in politics makes no difference to any one or political coalition. Period.
No News Is Bad News reproduces below online news portal Free Malaysia Today’s report and a previous postings on the same issue:
MCA leader hits out at ‘DAP spokesman’ Lokman
Party vice-president Ti Lian Ker reminds Umno Supreme Council member Lokman Adam that criticising MCA and MIC would only further embarass Barisan Nasional.
FMT Reporters - 22 Jun 2023, 3:01pm
Ti Lian Ker (left) responded to Lokman Adam who described MIC and MCA as liabilities for ‘continuously failing to secure votes’ for Barisan Nasional.
PETALING JAYA: MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker has urged Umno Supreme Council member Lokman Adam to cease his attacks on allies in Barisan Nasional, saying he sounded like a mouthpiece for DAP instead.
Ti said this in response to a report by Malaysia Gazette in which Lokman had described MIC and MCA as liabilities for what he called their “continuous failure to secure votes” for BN.
Lokman had also alleged that MCA president Wee Ka Siong and MIC deputy president M Saravanan had “betrayed” BN by signing statutory declarations to back Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin to become the prime minister after the 15th general election (GE15) last November.
Ti said any criticism by Lokman against MCA and MIC would only further embarrass the coalition.
Yesterday, MIC information chief R Thinalan also hit out at Lokman’s remarks, suggesting that if the latter views MIC as a burden, he should seek a resolution from BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to boot MIC out of the coalition.
In a statement, Ti said BN’s defeat was influenced by several factors, including the shift of support from the Chinese and Indian communities due to DAP’s narrative of equality and the elimination of Bumiputera privileges.
“The Alliance Party, originally founded on principles of diversity and secularism, was replaced by BN, which adopted a more nationalist and Malay-centric approach,” Ti said.
He added that DAP had even pushed a narrative that portrayed Umno as a party of “thieves and robbers” while criticising MCA and MIC for their perceived failure to defend the Chinese and Indian communities and their alleged subservience to Umno.
Ti pointed out that Pakatan Harapan ran election campaigns in the past with the theme of “Who supports the robbers” just to gain votes, and that this not only referred to MCA but also Umno and its leaders.
“Anyway, congratulations to DAP, as they now have Lokman as their spokesman,” Ti said.
“From ‘No DAP’, Lokman has become a defender and spokesman for DAP. Now who is the real traitor?”
Thursday, 15 June 2023
MCA and MIC cannot be trusted politically
No News Is Bad News
MCA and MIC cannot be trusted politically
KUALA LUMPUR, June 15, 2023: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his 19-coalition parties in the unity Government should really think twice about wanting to give seats to the MCA and MIC.
Both MCA and MIC backstabbed Umno immediately after the 15th General Election (GE15) results.
Watch the video clips above and you will know why they should be discarded in the coming six-state election. They need to show political sincerity before they can be considered trustworthy.
After all, both MCA and MIC have sold out the communities they claim to represent for the past 60 years since Merdeka (Independence) in 1957.
The video clip clearly shows their political stand today - working with politicians and parties friendly to the Taliban-like PAS-dominated Perikatan Nasional (PN).
Obviously, it will be a grave mistake to sympathise with the MCA and MIC who have for more than six decades sold out the communities they claim to represent.
MCA and MIC cannot be trusted politically.
Thursday, 1 June 2023
BN is irrelevant BUT Umno remains relevant to Unity Govt
No News Is Bad News
Umno president Zahid Hamidi (left) and Pakatan Harapan leader and 10th Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim are the pillars of national unity with Sarawak and Sabah.
BN is irrelevant BUT Umno remains relevant to Unity Govt
KUALA LUMPUR, June 2, 2023: A letter published by Free Malaysia Today titled Barisan Nasional – Out Of Date Or Still Relevant?
No News Is Bad News’ answer is YES! Barisan Nasional (BN) is politically irrelevant BUT Umno is still relevant as long as it continues with its surprising “change” in championing national unity and a united Malaysians for Malaysia.
The major BN coalition partners - MCA and MIC (Gerakan is with the Taliban-like PAS dominated Pakatan Nasional) - are clearly politically irrelevant after they were soundly rejected in the past three consecutive general election.
Whether they are in the BN or not, makes no difference to the majority of Malaysian voters.
Their folly is to continue to dwell in politics for their survival and largesse that comes with political power. Constructive governance and politics are beyond their comprehension.
They are unable to change to try and win back the confidence of Malaysians in them, unlike Umno whiach is showing some semblance of unity for Malaysians in politics.
As long as the Umno president Zahid Hamidi continues with his “rational” brand of politics for Malaysians and Malaysia, Malaysian voters are likely to have faith and confidence in him and Umno to promote the longevity of Anwar Ibrahim’s Unity Government.
And it must be said that both Zahid and Anwar are also supported by Sarawak and Sabah.
Malaysians are reminded that in Malaysian politics, it is true and practical that “there are no permanent enemies or friends” in a multi-racial, multi-religious nation.
Malaysians need to adapt to positive political changes and rality.
Now News Is Bad News reproduces below the letter published by Free Malaysia Today:
LETTER | Barisan Nasional – Out Of Date Or Still Relevant?
Letter to Editor
written by Kamarudin Ahmad Wednesday, 31 May, 2023 1 comment
The major loss of parliamentary seats in the recent GE 15 begs the question: Is Barisan Nasional still relevant in the current political landscape?
Since the country achieved independence, Barisan Nasional (BN) has always won the majority seats in Parliament.
Originally, BN started as ALLIANCE comprising United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) and Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC). Politics was very much simplified in the ’50s and ’60s. However, things took a radical change with the 13 May 1969 racial riots (May 13) that tore the nation apart. The Democratic Action Party (DAP), representing the Chinese voters, was blamed for the May 13 incident. A National Operations Council was set up to cool the heated political situation.
That’s when the leaders decided to set up BN with the purpose of promoting racial integration. The biggest mistake then was the non inclusion of DAP. Politics continued along racial lines with DAP stirring up racial sentiments amongst the Chinese voters. Consequently, MCA lost the support of the Chinese voters, but MIC managed to maintain the support of Indian voters.
Barisan Nasional Began To Lose Control
BN began to lose Parliamentary elections beginning with the 12th General Election held in 2008 with Selangor falling to the opposition PKR. Further decline took place in the 13th General Election held in 2013. The climax was the 14th General Election held in 2018 where BN lost control of the Federal Government. Pakatan Harapan (PH) formed the new Federal Government with Mahathir Mohamad as Prime Minister.
Malaysians voted for change under the PH slogan “Selamatkan Malaysia.” Unfortunately, the situation worsened due to political infighting inside PH. A component party BERSATU pull out support for the PH Government, resulting in loss of majority in Parliament. Consequently, Dr Mahathir resigned as the Prime Minister, bringing down the PH Government.
In a twist of fate Muhyiddin Yassin formed the new government based on the counting of Statutory Declarations (SD) that supported him as Prime Minister with SD from UMNO/BN, PAS, and parties from Sabah and Sarawak.
It was another failed attempt to provide a good government for the country. More infightings in the coalition government of Muhyiddin resulted in the Emergency Proclamation made by the Yang Di Pertuan Agong (YDPA) at the behest of then Prime Minister Muhyiddin.
The climax in the infighting was UMNO/ BN pulling out its support for Muhyiddin as PM.
Another process of counting SDs was made in 2022 and Ismail Sabri from UMNO/ BN got the majority support to be the Prime Minister. Still the country did not progress under Ismail, culminating in the dissolution of Parliament and the country faced the 15th General Election in November 2022.
Hung Parliament
For the first time in the history of Malaysia, not a single party obtained the majority seats of 112 MP to form the Federal Government. A Hung Parliament was the outcome of GE 15.
PH, with the largest number of seats with over 80 MPs failed to get the support of Perikatan Nasional (PN) to form a coalition government.
Also read:- New Landscape Of Political Engagement in Malaysia: How Can We Map It?
It was UMNO/BN that came to the rescue of PH, and at the behest of the King, and resolve the political stalemate created by the Hung Parliament.
We can thus conclude that UMNO/BN adopted a rational approach in its dealings with PH. Despite internal protests, UMNO/BN President Zahid took the plunge by forming a coalition government with PH.
The new government, popularly known as “Kerajaan Perpaduan” would not be possible without Zahid’s strong historical ties with Anwar. And the country benefit with Anwar as PM and Zahid as DPM.
No murmurings of political squabble between PH and BN. No talks of MPs jumping ship to destabilise the Kerajaan Perpaduan (Unity Government).
Both Anwar and Zahid exude confidence for the government to last until next GE 16.
Both Anwar (Pakatan Harapan) and Zahid (Barisan Nasional) exude confidence for the government to last until next GE 16.
Thanks to the rational policy of BN, the country is moving forward without any hiccups.
Yes, the answer is BN still relevant in the political landscape of Malaysia. – mediahit
The writer is a practising lawyer and NGO activist.
Editor’s Note: The views expressed in this article are that of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the management of newmediahit.com.
Sunday, 21 May 2023
‘Sour-grape’ MCA politicians
No News Is Bad News
MCA could only do worse than what it had achieved 5 years ago, so much so that PM Najib had warned at MCA’s 64th annual general assembly last year that unless the Chinese party could win at least 15 parliamentary seats, which is a “mission impossible”, there’s no way the party can be rewarded with 3 cabinet posts, no matter how pariah the portfolios will be.
‘Sour-grape’ MCA politicians
KUALA LUMPUR, May 22, 2023: MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker is an irrelevant politician still stuck in 20th Century politics.
He should be asking himself why he and MCA have been soundly rejected by Malaysians instead of continuing with his and his party’s politics of just attacking political rivals, especially the DAP.
The reality is MCA had 60 years to proof itself as a reliable and responsible party for Malaysians. That would be working towards continuous progress in national unity and socio-economic growth.
Instead, it had chosen to just continue with its lapdog politics of curry favour with the ruling Umno in Barisan Nasional (BN) , thus eroding Malaysians’ confidence in MCA.
Today, it cannot even win a single seat in which the Chinese is a majority and its leaders now hold no position in the Anwar Ibrahim-led Unity Government (UG).
Just attacking DAP will not help MCA will back the confidence and trust of Malaysians in the ballot boxes. Instead, the MCA sounds like “sour grapes” in the progress of the UG, especially in the united efforts of Umno and DAP and the Anwar-led Pakatan Harapan (PH).
No Malaysian had visualised what is happening today - both Umno and DAP changing its political stance towards forging a UG for the sake of Malaysians, not race.
Just look how Umno and DAP leaders are championing the virtues of supporting each other to progress Malaysia for Malaysians?
And MCA wants to destroy this unity, hoping for a comeback to the corridors of power in politics. What a no brainer as it continues to dig its political grave deeper with its no-constructive actions and deeds for socio-economic development.
MCA leaders like Ti should come to their senses, accept political reality, and change to remain politically relevant to Malaysians.
The way to win back the confidence and trust of Malaysians is to stop politicking aimlessly and start contributing positively with ideas to progress Malaysia through good governance.
No News Is Bad News opines that that is just too much to ask of MCA, even after six decades of only providing political rhetoric in governance.
Here’s what Free Malaysia Today (FMT) reported of “sour-grape politician” Ti and a financetwitter article on MCA’s leadership:
Growth of DAP, PAS shows need for unity, says Ti
MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker sees ‘grave implications’ in the emergence of PAS and DAP as the two biggest parties in opposing political blocs.
FMT Reporters - 21 May 2023, 10:16pm
Adversaries for decades, PAS and DAP were partners in Pakatan Rakyat until they split in 2015. They are now the two biggest individual parties in the Dewan Rakyat.
PETALING JAYA: A leader of MCA says the growth of long-time rivals PAS and DAP as the biggest political parties in opposing blocs has highlighted the need for national unity.
The rise of the two political blocs had revived fears and suspicion based on the parties’ past, said MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker.
He welcomed a call for unity raised by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, in a speech at the national unity week celebrations in Kuching earlier today.
The King said Malaysians should uphold unity as the country’s major asset, and reduce differences by bridging the racial and religious gaps among them.
Ti Lian Ker.
Ti said the King’s reminder to cooperate and cultivate positive thoughts and practices was apt.
He said there were grave implications in the rise of two political blocs dominated by PAS and DAP, which he described as “two divergent groups”. Their rise had come about as a result of factionalism in Umno and strategic political alliances made by the two parties, he said.
Their rise had “also inadvertently brought back the fears, suspicions and anxiety towards each other” as a result of past rhetoric, actions and posturing.
He said the two parties had postured themselves in the past as “representing the rural Malays extremism and the urban Chinese chauvinism”.
He added that Barisan Nasional’s downfall has also caused the independence-era ties between Umno, MCA and MIC to collapse, “giving way to more extremism”, which he said had also affected investor confidence.
From 7-Eleven To Extinction – With MCA Leaders Like Liow & Wee, Who Needs Enemies?
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March 19th, 2018 by financetwitter |
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MAR192018
During its heyday in the era of Malaysian First Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, MCA was given vital federal cabinet posts such Minister of Transport, Minister of Health, Minister of Labour and Social Affair and Minister of Communications, Telecommunications and Posts. More importantly, MCA was also entrusted with Minister of Finance and Minister of Trade and Industry. G-7 Leaders in Japan
Clearly, MCA was once the most respected component party of the federal government under Tunku Abdul Rahman. But that’s water under the bridge. Today, MCA (Malaysian Chinese Association) is a dying species waiting for extinction. The once glorified Chinese-based political party can only commands – three “pariah” cabinet posts.
Currently, MCA president Liow Tiong Lai is the transport minister, MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong is a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department while MCA secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan is the second minister of international trade and industry. If Prime Minister Najib Razak could have it his way, MCA should only have had one cabinet post.
Even though known as the lapdog of UMNO (the dominant party led by Najib Razak), MCA had always been able to win more than half of the federal and state seats it contested since it first competed in the elections in 1959, except in 1969 and 1990 elections – until the 2008 and 2013 tsunamis which swept the once biggest Chinese-based political party to oblivion.
In the first tsunami of 2008 started by ethnic-Indian, MCA, which is part of the governing Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition, won 15 out of 40 parliamentary seats and 32 out of the 90 state seats it contested. At least they won a third of the seats. Unfortunately, the political landscape continued to change with the second tsunami, arguably the Chinese tsunami, in 2013 general election.
Five years ago in 2013, MCA only managed to win 7 out of 37 seats it contested – less than 20% success rate. The party also did horribly in the state seats, winning only 11 out of 90 seats – that’s 12% success rate. The 2013’s pathetic performance resulted with the now comical “7-11” moniker (seven MPs and 11 assemblymen). But even the 7-11 insult is fast slipping away.
MCA could only do worse than what it had achieved 5 years ago, so much so that PM Najib had warned at MCA’s 64th annual general assembly last year that unless the Chinese party could win at least 15 parliamentary seats, which is a “mission impossible”, there’s no way the party can be rewarded with 3 cabinet posts, no matter how pariah the portfolios will be.
In the same breath, Mr. Najib also warned the Chinese community not to complain about bias allocations to ethnic-Malay since the ethnic-Chinese refuse to vote for his government, never mind the Chinese are paying 90% of total income tax. MCA, under the leadership of Liow Tiong Lai and Wee Ka Siong, can only pray they could at least maintain their “7-11” status.
Since the humiliating defeat in 2013, Mr. Liow and Mr. Wee have done nothing but drawing salaries, perks and projects from their cabinet posts. They have pretended that 1MDB scandal was none of their business. They also dared not defend billionaire Robert Kuok when the Malaysian born tycoon was threatened, insulted and bullied by UMNO – until it was too late.
When MCA, despite having three cabinet portfolios, albeit pariah ones, could not even defend a philanthropist such as iconic Robert Kuok, how could the Chinese-based party defend ordinary Chinese community? Even against a lower ranking minister such as Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz, both Liow and Wee have shown little courage.
Former MCA President Chua Soi Lek has finally spoken and he is right in condemning the leadership of Liow Tiong Lai and Wee Ka Siong. What little dignity which was left under Mr. Chua’s leadership was thrown out of the window by Mr. Liow and Mr. Wee. That small piece of “dignity” was Chua’s decision to not join the government if the party did poorer in 2013 election than in 2008.
Of course, the Chinese community had chosen to vote – as much as 90% – for opposition DAP despite Chua’s threat of having zero Chinese representatives in the cabinet, creating what is today mocked as “7-11” MCA party. Chua was subsequently defeated in December 2013 MCA party election. And what was the first thing that new MCA president Liow and deputy president Wee did?
Both greedy Liow and Wee quickly reversed the party’s initial decision to reject government posts. Had both leaders honoured the pledge, in the name of dignity, there’s a chance the party could do better in the next election. Chua was absolutely right when he said – “I think if MCA had insisted on staying out of the cabinet, we would have had more room to manouevre.”
Chua Soi Lek, himself was caught with his pants down bonking a woman friend in a hotel room 1301 of 4-star Katerina Hotel in Batu Pahat, Johor, back in 2008. But he was courageous enough to admit he was the man in a widely circulated sex video, a scandal of which some speculated was architected by none other than Liow Tiong Lai.
Delivering a punch to Liow’s leadership, Chua said – “If we had stayed out, then our political situation would be different today. Now the people blame MCA for everything because MCA is part of the government, this is the burden that we have to bear. If the party did not rejoin the cabinet back then, then we would have more room to express our opinions on current issues.”
What Mr. Chua meant was MCA could freely condemn not only UMNO warlords for playing racial issue with the respected Robert Kuok, but even premier Najib himself on the 1MDB scandal, had the party refused to make the U-turn. Essentially, without any interest in the government, UMNO can’t threaten, let alone insult, the leadership of MCA simply because the party would have nothing to lose.
Chua may sound like someone who has an axe to grind but like it or not, he’s right that MCA has shown neither courage nor political wisdom. Perhaps Liow and Wee thought the smart way to survive the political onslaught is to – hear no evil, see no evil, and speak no evil. But to the bully UMNO, such pretendence and ignorance are taken as a sign of weakness.
There’s a reason why UMNO thugs like Nazri Abdul Aziz, who demanded Robert Kuok to surrender his Malaysian passport and called the billionaire a “coward with no testicles”, has shown more respect for political opponent DAP than political ally MCA. The level which MCA leaders are willing to stoop in order to “kowtow” to UMNO just for some crumbs is just mind-boggling.
Liow and Wee’s subservience to political master UMNO is so despicable and extraordinary that even a badass Nazri has nothing but disgust. Clearly, Mr. Nazri, one of UMNO supreme council members, has zero respect for MCA. While Liow and Wee might think beggars can’t be choosers, Nazri considers the MCA leaders as stray dogs rather than precious pets such as poodles.
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had openly criticised MCA for their failure to turn up at a Barisan Nasional vote-fishing campaign in Rembau. MCA president Liow dares not fight back. Now, Najib wants his aide Wong Nai Chee to represent MCA in Alor Gajah in the coming general election, interfering with seat allocations and obviously bulldozing the traditional power-sharing agreement.
As the second largest Barisan Nasional component, MCA should at least be allowed to mind their own internal affairs and have some sort of say in decision-making as far as seat allocations is concerned. Under Liow and Wee leadership, not only the big bully UMNO barge into MCA home and take away whatever they like, they also steal MCA’s lunch and even kiss Liow and Wee’s girlfriends.
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