KUALA LUMPUR: MCA is now more united than ever and ready to improve its performance in the next general election, said party president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai today.
He said MCA’s transformation plan had succeeded in uniting members as well as Chinese community.
“At this critical juncture as election is near, I call on comrades to unite, serve and go all-out in fighting for our party’s renaissance,” he said in his keynote address at MCA’s 64th annual general meeting at Wisma MCA here.
Speaking to some 1,500 delegates, Liow expressed confidence that the Chinese votes would return to MCA and Barisan Nasional as the previous electoral setbacks were temporary.
“We believe that a righteous party will win over voters’ trust, and that its defeat is only temporary.”
From 107 seats MCA won in the 2004 election, the number dropped to 46 in the 2008 and 18 in the last election.
Liow, who is also Transport Minister, said DAP had betrayed the mandate given to it by the Chinese community.
“We have to help voters audit DAP and reveal its actions which have allowed the ‘Lim dynasty’ to continue its pursuit for power, especially when it conspired with Pas, and later on (former prime minister) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.”
Liow said the recent Tanjung Bungah landslide in Penang had revealed Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng’s incapability and lack of responsibility.
“The myth of ‘Tokong’ Guan Eng’s invincibility has started to crack.
“In the approaching election, each and every vote from the Chinese community to MCA is valued as an instrument for check and balance, to prevent the theocratic ideology of Pas, and ensure that the secular system which we follow (continues).”
He warned that the opposition would call for a change in the federal government to attract voters.
“Therefore, we must persist in lobbying for more Chinese votes and endeavouring wholeheartedly to get back MCA members to assist us.”
On national development, Liow assured Chinese community that they would not lag behind national development if they were united.
“We will never give up working towards the National Transformation 2050 (TN50) mission. This is MCA’s promise to all Chinese.”
Liow said as part of nation building, the Chinese community would actively participate in TN50.
“MCA is ever willing to spearhead the Chinese community to continue having a significant role in national development.”
He said despite the shifting political winds, MCA had never strayed from its vision to ensure the rights of the local Chinese and other races were protected based on the Federal Constitution.
On the recent religion-motivated controversies, such as the Beer Festival and the “Muslims-only laundrettes”, Liow reminded the delegates that the Federal Constitution guaranteed the people’s freedom of religion.
“The issues are petty but can tear apart the relations between people, and infringe on individual freedom,” he said.
He assured the Chinese community that MCA would obtain funds from the government to complete 16 new Chinese vernacular schools within five years.
“We will continue to work with Dong Jiao Zong and other Chinese guilds and associations that care about mother-tongue education to strengthen the value of Chinese education,” he said.