Studies underway on proposals that MCA should be multiracial

MCA Hq, 19 May - The MCA Central Committee (CC) which convened its 51^st meeting today had among others, deliberated and decided on the establishment of a Reform Committee which is tasked on the transformation of MCA into a multi-racial political party and the formation of a new political party in MCA.

Replying to a reporter as to why only now does MCA initiate a study to be multiracial, party President Dato’ Sri Liow Tiong Lai informed that “we received a lot of request from the rakyat and members that it is time for MCA to review party’s communal party policies.”

Elaborating that MCA had lost successively for the last 3 General Elections, Tiong Lai explained that “it is time for us to make a thorough review. Only through a complete reform of the party will ensure the party becomes stronger later. While we faced defeat, we have to review our position to become stronger and accepted by the rakyat of all races.”

Although MCA has been a race-based party since our inception, our outreaches have never been race exclusive. Rather, MCA has always embraced all races in our services – a point succinctly pointed out by Tiong Lai. “MCA is always a communal Chinese party, but we always take a multiracial approach. But this may not be good enough for a multiracial nation,” he said while informing that studies on this matter will be carried out. “This is the reason why we have to go to the ground to study.”  He added that “we have to listen and engage and get feedback from members.”

As to whether the party will be conducting a post-mortem, Tiong Lai disclosed that MCA “will be having a brainstorming session soon. The Reform Committee which will conduct the study (will compile) a report (which) will be submitted to the Meeting of the General Assembly (AGM) as soon as possible before the end of the year.”

He also conveyed that a “preliminary post-mortem is ready but waiting for the brainstorming to be done for the report to be tabled in the AGM.”

As to when the party polls will be carried out, Tiong Lai informed that “no date for party election (has been set but it) will be before the end of this year. The party Election Steering Committee has just been set up.”

-MCA online-