As we move closer to September 16, I do not know if Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim can pull off the sensational feat of overthrowing the Barisan Nasional (BN) government.
What I do know is that there are many Chinese voters supporting the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) alliance. These are the voters who turned away from MCA and gave us a real bloody nose in the March elections.
But PR appears to have support also from the Indians and even a significant number of Malays.
In short, the PR alliance is turning into what BN used to represent.
To most Malaysians, the BN coalition had always been associated with moderation and multi-racialism even though it was recognized that Umno was the dominant party in the partnership.
Right now, BN is associated with racism, arrogance and corruption.
And while all BN component parties should take responsibility, it is Umno as the dominant party which is most tainted by such a perception.
Such was Umno's poor standing, especially among the Chinese, that the DAP had one major rallying cry which won them and lost the MCA the Chinese votes: "A vote for MCA is a vote for Umno."
Six months down the road, MCA is still fighting that perception.
But of course, we in the MCA can never hope to achieve a turnaround in public perception if Umno does not actually change.
Recent events show that Umno, when backs are against the wall, resorts to playing the race card.
It is a matter of public perception that the recent UiTM protests was instigated by quarters within Umno.
The racist comments of Bukit Bendera Umno chief Ahmad Ismail is another example.
So what can MCA do?
Pull out of BN? Will that really help, beyond satisfying our egos that we can help stick the knife into the backs of Umno.
Unfortunately, there is no direction within the MCA now.
We are busy with our party elections. I am worried that once we in the party finish deciding who our next leaders will be it may already be too late.
That is why I so wanted the party election campaign to be a battle of ideas instead of the slander and dirty politics which so turn people off.
Anyone who wishes to be MCA president, or be part of the senior leadership, must be able to convince Umno that multi-racialism is the only way out to save BN.
The BN must become multi-racial and moderate again. We must re-seize that branding back from PR and Anwar Ibrahim.
BN should eventually turn into a single-multi-racial party which really represents the interest of all Malaysians.
Realistically this cannot happen immediately of course.
But we must set it as a real target, instead of brushing the suggestion aside.
Perhaps the MCA should suggest some structural changes within the BN framework to reflect a more multi-racial outlook, to shake off the perception that BN is merely a coalition of race-based parties.
It pains me to see that it is the acting Gerakan president who has come up with suggestions to introduce a code of conduct for BN parties, while the current MCA leadership and those endorsed to take over the party do little to save MCA and BN!
Dr. Chua Soi Lek
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