Oriental Daily, 02-10-2014
In the past six years MCA was trapped in a dilemma of endless internal feud and external battle. Although the process of each party crisis was different but the source was somewhat similar – fight between party No 1 and No 2. Hence, MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai is blunt to say that there are issues in election mechanism of MCA. Hence MCA plans to amend the party election system in the coming annual general meeting to reduce battles within the party.
In the MCA reform action guidelines, MCA plans to introduce a “double” combination for president and deputy president in 2016 party election for 40,000 of MCA members to vote in MCA divisions in a bid to reduce fights within the party.
Looking at history, MCA crisis have always been fights between No 1 and No 2. Hence ties between MCA president and deputy president often catch attention. Liow does not hide the fact that both he and Wee are comrades who walk the journey together. But ever since they are No 1 and No 2 now, people continue to provoke and attempt to create disharmony between both of them.
“Suddenly, many people ask questions like how is your (Liow) cooperation with Ka Siong, are you in good relations? Despite having different style and ways of handling issues compare to Ka Siong, we have good co-operation and we discuss.”
In an exclusive interview with Oriental Daily, Liow said many people provoke and attempt to create a scenario of MCA president and deputy president are in a mess. This proves that problem exists in the election system of the party.
“To me (Liow), I am always with Ka Siong (working together). Now that we want to ensure that the MCA is united to deliver a better result. We will rely on actual move to rebut these baseless rumours.”
He said to reduce party crisis, change must take place from the party election system. They have drafted a set of reform action guidelines. One of the key points is the manner of MCA president and deputy president contesting in a combination pairing.
Direct voting system by division delegates
Liow says endless MCA crisis is due to human factor in the party. Another source is the delegate system of election where the leadership focuses on getting support from central delegates. This leads to factionalism at grassroots level continuously be brought up to central leadership.
He is of the view that reform on election system is the way to go. It will be an important turning point for MCA. MCA can’t remain in the past.
He points out that the Kuomintang in Taiwan used to face endless party crisis. After adopting a direct election system, the party has managed to reduce party crisis to the minimum level.
Hence, he opines that direct election system is good. MCA will first extend the delegate system in 2016 party election and plan to introduce a direct election system by members in 2019.
He claims that the delegate system causes endless party crisis and this harms MCA. Members are sick of the crisis and voters lose confidence on MCA.
As the MCA central committee would have to work on details for direct election, so the committee plans to introduce a system of division delegates in 2016 during party election for 40,000 division delegates to directly vote for central committee members of MCA.
He also adds that changing a party election system requires amending party constitution. Hence MCA plans to explain to central delegates on the reform during the annual general meeting (AGM) scheduled to be held this Sunday.
He would also be having a nationwide tour to prepare for extraordinary general meeting (EGM) next year to amend party constitution.
Asked whether the EGM held to amend party constitution would face retaliation by grass root members to veto the move, Liow is of the view that politics itself is a battle. One should not view it in a negative manner. If one is fearful of many things, reforms are difficult to be carried out.
Under MCA’s current election system, each central committee position is voted by 2,400 central delegates.
Registration is to be held for those “sleeping” members to wake up
Liow, who takes over as MCA president when the party is at its lowest ebb, says reform on the organisation of MCA is inevitable. The MCA is currently registering members’ data to ensure the headquarters maintain access to each party member so that when MCA faces general election, it can achieve the basic support of 30% by Chinese voters.
He is straight forward to say that despite having 1.06 million party members, not many are active MCA members. Hence they commence a new round of registration plan to update members’ data for party headquarters to use various new technologies to keep in touch with members for them to be active.
He said the re-registration of members’ data is progressing well. The insurance plan carried out by previous membership has updated a portion of members’ data. Now he is mobilizing division and branch leaders to assist party headquarters to trace members.
“Of course, we do not deny that we may not be able to have updated information of 1 million members. But we will continue in a practical way. Currently 300,000 members have re-registered their data. We are speeding up the progress of registration.”
He says they will actively trace inactive party members and branches. These grass roots are very important to MCA for external battles in future. He also adds that the re-registration helps MCA headquarters to stay in connection while members who have not registered are still MCA members. Their names are not de-registered.
He does not deny the fact that in May 05 election, MCA only secured 16% of support from Chinese. This is a severe blow to the party. Hence they have to activate grass roots members. At least MCA would receive 30% of support from Chinese in battles in future. They believe this can be achieved.
He said MCA also has members’ data bank. If the data are not updated regularly, many members could have changed addresses and telephone numbers. In the past, divisions and branches are the ones contacting members. Due to technology advance, MCA headquarters are able to reach out to each member directly through hand phones.
Positive impact of “magnetic field for civilization”
MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai says to make a comeback MCA must pay attention to public sentiment. Hence he is preparing to explain on the policy framework of “magnetic field for civilization”.
Liow says MCA touches on the policy framework as it is capable of releasing positive energy to attract foreign investment, reject extremism, support and tolerate dynamism.
In the policy framework of “magnetic field of civilization”, MCA wants to be a partner of Chinese community. After the AGM, MCA would be organizing various forums, seminars, talks, small and huge dinners to gather feedback on helping Chinese businessmen to venture in overseas market via government-link companies and collaboration between Chinese and Malay businessmen.
MCA would be having its AGM for its parent body, youth and women’s wing on this coming Saturday and Sunday. This is also Liow’s first AGM as MCA president. He does not hide the fact that the AGM is very important for the new leadership as it needs to honour pledges made to central delegates.
He is honest that in current scenario, MCA faces mounting pressure both internal and external after two rounds of humiliating defeat in general elections. As part of ruling coalition the party has to remain focus, not to be distracted by extremism and various types of noises to hamper its development in future. Hence MCA ought to have a direction and ideology, handle public sentiment as well.
In the past, MCA was active in handling people’s problems but the help might not transpire into votes. This is because people’s requests continue to increase and MCA ought to take people’s wishes seriously. Public sentiment can’t rely on shouting slogans. Hence MCA is showing the policy framework, using people’s rationality to promote democratization of the country.
He said MCA is willing to listen to people. Judging from global trend, including the recent protest in Hong Kong, a small fire can spark off fire to burn down an entire field. Through various channels, including analysis of strategy and keeping in touch with strategic research committee and non-governmental organizations to understand the latest situation.
Asked about the ban imposed by MCA on Malaysiakini to cover the AGM, Liow said the main reason is that Malaysiakini often loses focus on its report. It would also not report the good intention of “magnetic field of civilization”.
Original Source: 4万区代表投选 2高职搭档竞选 马华改制减党爭