SHAH ALAM – MCA’s demand to contest in all upcoming state elections and general elections is seen as challenging to fulfill.
Political analyst Dr Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri said that as a component party of Barisan Nasional (BN), MCA required an official endorsement from BN President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to contest in any election.
He said meeting this demand was challenging given the current political climate and MCA’s weakened position.
"Its president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong himself emphasised that the party must win more seats because, without electoral victories, it risks becoming irrelevant in the country’s political landscape.
"However, history shows that MCA’s strength has largely depended on its cooperation with Umno, including securing Malay votes. The results of the 15th general election saw MCA winning only two parliamentary seats and seven state assembly seats, which demonstrates a drastic decline in public support,” he told Sinar.
Zaharuddin stressed that this clearly indicates MCA has lost the majority of Chinese community votes, which have now shifted towards DAP.
"MCA’s ambition to strengthen its political power by relying solely on Chinese votes is an almost impossible strategy without structural or ideological changes within the party.
"MCA’s policies, which appear to focus exclusively on the Chinese community without introducing a new narrative, are often the reason why voters from other ethnic groups and urban communities reject the party,” he said.
He added that if MCA insists on contesting in all the seats it desires, it could lead to major conflicts among component parties within the unity government, particularly with DAP.
"The issue of seat claims could result in contests among coalition partners in certain areas, ultimately leading to vote splitting and benefiting the opposition,” he said.
Therefore, he suggested that MCA leave the BN coalition to try its luck independently if the party believes it could stand strong without relying on Umno and BN.
"This bold move would serve as a test to determine whether MCA’s influence remains strong or if it merely depends on the old coalition structure.
"However, this decision requires thorough preparation, including internal party reforms and a rebranding strategy that can attract all segments of society, not just Chinese voters,” he concluded.