MCA To Drop Ineffective & Old Elected Representatives Next Election

MCA, the second largest Barisan Nasional (BN) component party, will be replacing its ineffective and long-serving elected representatives in the next general election with new and younger leaders, its president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said Sunday.

"It is not about old guards against young people. We have to bring in new people in the moves to modernise the 58-year-old party to move forward in tandem with the globalisation era," he told reporters after launching the party's 58th anniversary celebration at Wisma MCA here today.

Ong said although there was no guideline on the time limit for the party's Members of Parliament (MPs) and State Assemblymen to hang on to their posts, it also did not mean that they could hold the position for a long time. "Relatively, certain people can (continue to) serve since they are still dynamic, and we will still support them since they are still effective. However, there are leaders who are no longer sensitive to the people's comments on them.

"Whoever criticises them is considered as their political enemy, while they only like to hear praises from their supporters and under such circumstances, a conflict occurs within the team," he said without naming the party leaders concerned.

Ong said the move was part of the party's renewal process and to give the younger generation of leaders the opportunity to become elected representatives. There is intense speculation that several MCA leaders, particularly those who have been serving more than three terms as MPs and assemblymen are likely to opt out or drop as the party's candidates in the next general election.

Among those who have been MPs for more than three terms are former Housing and Local Government Minister Tan Sri Dr Ting Chew Peh (Gopeng), former Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng (Bakri), Datuk Yap Pian Hon (Serdang) and Tan Sri Hew See Tong (Kampar). Several state assemblymen are also likely to opt out or drop as the party candidates.

Earlier, Ong in his speech said there were leaders who had been holding a particular political post for too long to the extent that they were no longer creative and lacked initiatives to continue to serve the people.

Although the MCA had limited the duration of leaders holding the posts of party president, youth head and wanita head, besides the post of ministers, state excos, district and municipal council members, he said this did not mean that such leaders must hold on to their positions up to the maximum term stipulated.

As such, Ong said the MCA must intensify efforts at modernising the party and at the same time, party members were urged to develop a self-improvement system and to participate in efforts to initiate automatic leadership changes. Today's event was attended by MCA leaders and nearly 2,000 MCA delegates. (Bernama)

***** There may be a few hurdles as well as repercussions in this very laudable renewal attempt. The stubborn 'elders' who refuse to make way will be one serious problem especially if they have good grassroot support. Whether the whole exercise will turn into a Team A versus Team B free-for-all is another worry. How will this proposal affect Ong Ka Ting's own currently unassailable position? I'm sure the MCA bosses must have looked into all the pitfalls before proceeding on this potentially hazardous path.

Now that the MCA is getting rid of its long-serving leaders, which geriatric politician in Barisan is left hanging around and sticking out like a sore thumb? Why Uncle Sam of course. When will the MIC, a one-man-show of a party see the light?
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