Chua is all charged up for the battle
THE MCA annual general assembly on Sunday could very well be the party’s last meeting of its highest decision-making body before the general election, speculated to be held early next year.
Over the past month, its president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has been busy putting the final touches to his speech.
Realising that this could well be the final rally call to his troops before the general election, he is making sure that the contents are fresh, motivating and inspiring.
The straight-talking leader is aware that he is in a difficult position, with some saying he is like a war-time general about to take on the party’s opponents in a tough battlefield.
Although the party’s critics are still aplenty in the Chinese community, many agree that Dr Chua has been outspoken of late, and more importantly, bringing unity and stability to MCA.
Though MCA’s programmes have benefited many in the community, many still ask what the MCA has done to deserve their votes. And Dr Chua is aware of their expectations.
“Many people are somehow still unaware of what the party has done for them.
“Do you all know that 20,000 of the 100,000 Chinese students who entered tertiary institutions (this year) went to Kolej Tunku Abdul Rahman (KTAR) and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar)?” he asked during a recent media interview.
The two MCA-run establishments, with over 42,000 students, have produced over 185,000 graduates over the years.
Combined, their annual intake of about 20,000 students constitutes 20% of the 100,000 Chinese students who enter tertiary institutions each year.
The MCA has also launched its RM30mil 1MCA Education Loan scheme for the poor, regardless of race. The first five years of the loan is interest-free and benefits at least 250 students yearly.
For vocational training, the party has signed an MoU with six Taiwanese universities to sponsor 300 Malaysian students each year.
“Perhaps, MCA is not as good as DAP when it comes to packaging and promoting,” Dr Chua said.
There have also been other achievements. These include the MCA’s successful push to admit Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) graduates into public universities while the 1Malaysia Development Bhd has also given scholarships to top UEC holders.
“I am aware of the needs and expectations of the people which have a bearing on polling patterns,” he said, adding that it was “a global political phenomenon” where people wanted their voices and grievances, right or wrong, to be heard.
Such sentiments, unfortunately, are trump cards for the Opposition, particularly the DAP.
“DAP is only good at raising the people’s expectations and finding fault with MCA,” said Dr Chua. “If MCA achieves anything, DAP says it is because DAP pushed for it.
“And the DAP said the MCA is politically impotent when there are things that the former could not even do.”
Political transformations aside, the presidential speech is also likely to focus on the increasing cost of living and inflation.
“Many of the things done by the Government in general have also gone unnoticed,” he said. “Take, for instance, the petrol subsidies and the highly subsidised government hospital fees.
“Every time you pump one litre of petrol (RM1.90 per litre), you are given an 80-sen subsidy. If you spent RM300 on fuel, the Government subsidises RM126.
“It is RM1 to see a doctor in government hospitals because the Government subsidises the balance of between RM20 and RM25.”
Dr Chua said many people were unaware of the subsidies, giving rise to the perception that the Barisan Nasional government was not people-friendly.
Subsidies aside, Dr Chua, who is also a National Economic Council (NEC) member, said there were plans to help the poor with monetary aid and basic necessities like school books, uniforms and transportation fees.
Dr Chua acknowledged that the people were struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living.
“It was RM3.20 for a plate of char koay teow with cockles when I came to Kuala Lumpur in 2004. The price is now RM4.50 – a 30% increase. One cannot keep up with the rising cost if one’s pay hike is merely 5% over the last six years.”
A minimum wage policy is expected to be among the issues the MCA president will advocate.
On the general election, Dr Chua said a recent survey projected that MCA candidates could garner between 20% and 50% of the Chinese votes.
But he would not elaborate on how the candidates would be shortlisted.
“A night is too long in politics,” he said.
While the media, particularly the Chinese newspapers, have started speculating on “who’s in and who’s out”, Dr Chua said he would adopt a “very clinical and professional approach when shortlisting the candidates”.
Elaborating, he said: “It would be according to the facts of the case; its symptoms and investigation.
“You may say I am arrogant but I am not. Good is good. Winnable is winnable.”
Dr Chua noted that no seat was deemed safe and hoped those who had served long enough would willingly make way for younger candidates.
“There is life after politics.”
-The Star-
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