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Chinese unhappy with their party

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, right, and President of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) Ong Ka Ting stand during the 52nd MCA general assembly at MCA building in Kuala Lumpur, yesterday. Leaders of the main Chinese party in Malaysia's ruling coalition faced a tough re-election yesterday amid complaints they have failed to stand up for the community at a time when ethnic Malays are seeking to boost their decades-old privileges. PHOTO: AP

Leaders of the main Chinese party in Malaysia's ruling coalition faced a tough re-election Saturday amid complaints they have failed to stand up for the community at a time when ethnic Malays are seeking to boost their decades-old privileges.

Many Chinese are worried that some leaders of the Malay party that leads the coalition have recently called to strengthen a 35-year-old affirmative action program for Malays, said Tang Ah Chai, chief executive of the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall.

The results of the internal polls in the Malaysian Chinese Association political party will also determine the composition of the government after a Cabinet reshuffle expected in October.

The top four officer bearers of MCA get Cabinet posts as part of a power-sharing arrangement with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's United Malays National Organization, or UMNO.

"There is a general feeling among the Chinese that the MCA should ... be more outspoken in voicing our feelings on national issues," said Cheng Lai Hock of the Federation of Chinese Associations, an umbrella of 8,000 community groups.

The 1.3 million-member MCA is the second largest party in the National Front coalition, dominated by the UMNO.

Malays have enjoyed a host of special privileges in business, education, government jobs and other fields for several decades as part of an effort to improve their economic lot.

During UMNO's annual meeting last month, top leaders including Education Minister Hishamuddin Hussein Onn and UMNO youth wing's deputy leader, Khairy Jamaluddin, called for increasing the privileges.

Tang noted that MCA President Ong Ka Ting has been guarded in his response to the racially sensitive issue and promised to raise this only in closed-door talks with Hishamuddin.

"There is dissatisfaction and unhappiness in the Chinese community that the MCA and its leaders like Ong do not have the courage and confidence to stand up to UMNO," he said.

Although UMNO has a stranglehold over political power in Malaysia, it has preferred to govern in a coalition with parties representing minority Chinese and Indians in the interest of racial harmony. Malays form 60 percent of the country's 26 million people, while Chinese are 25 percent and Indians 8 percent.

The elections are a big test for Ong, 48, who is also housing and local government minister. He is being challenged by the outspoken former health minister Chua Jui Meng, 62, for the top post.

Chua recently held a televised public debate over affirmative action with Khairy, who is also the premier's son-in-law, and has warned that a move to increase the scope of the privileges could arouse fear and insecurity among other ethnic groups.

Analysts say even if Chua wins, he will have to step carefully around the affirmative action policy to prevent antagonizing UMNO leaders and Malays.

"The elections are unlikely to cause any policy changes because the MCA (has) been part of the National Front for a long time," said political analyst James Wong.

Race relations are a sensitive issue, although ethnic enmity is rare in this Southeast Asian nation that has not seen communal violence since the 1969 riots largely between Malays and Chinese when hundreds were killed.
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