Tee Keat rushes to remove ‘leave BN or not’ poll

MCA president Ong Tee Keat has quickly and quietly removed a poll entitled “Should MCA leave BN?” from his website after the survey found that 76 percent of respondents had answered “Yes”.

The embarrassing result is actually food for thought for the Chinese leader, who has already disappointed his supporters by failing to speak up on behalf of the community in recent crises, such as the Perak coup d’etat staged by Prime Minister Najib Razak.

“This just confirms that there is no difference between Tee Keat and the past MCA leaders who toadied up to Umno,” said a veteran political analyst.

“The answer from the poll is clear and very telling. It is a matter of whether Tee Keat has the courage to face up to the fact. The Chinese community has already done its soul searching and the conclusion is that you cannot straddle two boats at the same time.

“But until now the MCA has not learnt its lesson. As long as it is inside the BN, it cannot give the community the pride and position that it wants and is owed.

“Past leaders sold out for high positions and billions. What does our Tee Keat do now - he goes and pulls the plug out on his own poll!”

How to speak up for the Chinese when it is fearful?


Ironically or perhaps intentionally to further his own political agenda, Singapore’s Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew chose to meet Tee Keat and other MCA leaders first while in town on an official visit.

This was intended to show that Singapore saw the MCA as the voice of the Chinese community in Malaysia.

However, this was also despite the fact that the MCA now only commands 15 parliamentary seats, less than any one of the three partners in the Pakatan Rakyatcoalition.

By now, it is obvious the Chinese vote has deserted the MCA and deservedly so as borne out by this latest act, seen by many to be yet another instance of cowardly subservience to Umno.

According to Bernama, an MCA spokesman declined to reveal why the poll was started in the first place.

“However, we respect and appreciate responses in the poll. We will always review and study the opinions and suggestions given by the public to improve the party,” said central committee member Lee Wei Kiat.

Even though Malaysians will never know why the poll was initiated, it is clear why it was removed. On Thursday, Prime Minister Najib was asked for his comments on the survey.

“As far as I am concerned, MCA has no interest in leaving. It is only an academic exercise but the political position of MCA is to be a senior partner in the BN,” a vexed Najib had said.

SK
12/06/09

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