By Leslie Lau
Consultant Editor
KUALA LUMPUR, June 13 — Datuk Zaid Ibrahim’s decision to join PKR is expected to set off a flurry of former MCA officials joining the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) party.
The Malaysian Insider understands a former senator from the Barisan Nasional (BN) party is on the verge of joining.
Also mulling a defection is a former cabinet minister from MCA.
Zaid’s entry into PKR could be the push factor to convince a number of MCA leaders because he is considered a moderate Malay leader widely accepted by the Chinese community.
The former Umno man is also widely seen as someone who brings a more multi-racial approach to the opposition alliance because of his moderate views on Islam and race relations.
MCA has been in turmoil since it lost heavily in last year’s general elections.
Party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat has so far failed to regain the backing of Chinese voters for BN.
According to the party’s own estimates, Chinese support for MCA now stands at just 15 per cent.
This is down from the 30 per cent of Chinese voters who still voted for BN in last March’s elections.
A recent online poll on the party president’s blog also seems to suggest the trend remains the same.
Approximately three in four people who voted in the poll felt the MCA should leave BN.
Ong remains hampered in his efforts to win back support from the Chinese by the community’s negative perception of Umno.
Significant numbers of the Chinese community may baulk at the increasing religiosity and narrow racial views of some of the newly elected leaders in PAS because of concerns about what kind of policies the Islamist party may introduce if PR won federal power.
But the entry into PKR of Zaid, a moderate leader they are more comfortable with, could provide some comfort for the community and make it harder for the MCA and BN to win them back.
Comments (26)
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written by Jayenjr, June 13, 2009
written by Jayenjr, June 13, 2009
"Datuk Zaid Ibrahim’s decision to join PKR is expected to set off a flurry of former MCA officials joining the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) party."
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Yo MCA doodes......why are you still hanging around a sinking boat? Already, 79% of pollsters don't want MCA to remain in BN....and your president has got no guts to to face reality...??..
By all means, leave MCA. Unless you continue to want a life of insignificance, sham, and ultimately, corrupt, by being UMNO's poodle.
Your choice.
P/S - Of course, we - the rakyat - expect you to switch allegiance because you want to serve; not because of "potential" Alam Flora contracts.....
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Yo MCA doodes......why are you still hanging around a sinking boat? Already, 79% of pollsters don't want MCA to remain in BN....and your president has got no guts to to face reality...??..
By all means, leave MCA. Unless you continue to want a life of insignificance, sham, and ultimately, corrupt, by being UMNO's poodle.
Your choice.
P/S - Of course, we - the rakyat - expect you to switch allegiance because you want to serve; not because of "potential" Alam Flora contracts.....
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written by shadow, June 13, 2009
written by shadow, June 13, 2009
ZAID entry into PKR will definitely boost the PR. Now with DS Anwar Ibrahim and DS Nizar, we have Zaid who can also be the next PM of Malaysia. All hese guys are moderate malay leaders who are for all races. Any one of them is good for the country.
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written by teoh, June 13, 2009
written by teoh, June 13, 2009
pull MAC & GERAKAN to Pakatan and kick out Hadi ( PAS ). Let Pas joint UMNO corrupted party
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written by BusukNajiz, June 13, 2009
written by BusukNajiz, June 13, 2009
ZAID IBRAHIM SHOULD BE PM OF MALAYSIA !!!
NO NO NO.... not Najis, not Yiddin, not HiShame and no more Dictator Mahathir's clan, please...
A successful professional lawyer, a men that held his principles, a men who insist on doing the right thing etc....
I wonder how much longer Malaysian need to wait in order to have people like Zaid Ibrahim to run the country.
I sincerely hope that Zaid would one day be our PM, but not through the corrupted UMNO.
He should join Pakatan Rakyat and succeed DSAI as our future PM.
NO NO NO.... not Najis, not Yiddin, not HiShame and no more Dictator Mahathir's clan, please...
A successful professional lawyer, a men that held his principles, a men who insist on doing the right thing etc....
I wonder how much longer Malaysian need to wait in order to have people like Zaid Ibrahim to run the country.
I sincerely hope that Zaid would one day be our PM, but not through the corrupted UMNO.
He should join Pakatan Rakyat and succeed DSAI as our future PM.
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written by rakyatkampung, June 13, 2009
written by rakyatkampung, June 13, 2009
Judge, PAS isn't an enemy of anybody - the rakyat of Malaysia. But you're the enemy of the people of Malaysia (rakyat of PR) because of your misjudgement of the present situation. Get more information regarding kerajaan perpaduan from PAS leaders not from umnobn toilet paper (suratkhabarla).
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written by Fence sitter, June 13, 2009
written by Fence sitter, June 13, 2009
Disband MCA and join PKR/DAP.
MCA should be known as Malaysia Charity Association as they are giving "donation" lately to Chinese schools. I think it's too late as the Chinese wants to see the demise of MCA unless it gets out of BN.
MCA should be known as Malaysia Charity Association as they are giving "donation" lately to Chinese schools. I think it's too late as the Chinese wants to see the demise of MCA unless it gets out of BN.
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written by PAUL YONG, June 13, 2009
written by PAUL YONG, June 13, 2009
Maybe this will set off an 'INFERNAL AFFAIRS'-like cross-spying conspiracy.
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written by Heavan & Hell, June 13, 2009
MCA lost Chinese support is because UMNO block and do not allow MCA to help Chinese Socially, Economically and Educationally. Similarly MIC face the same problems, UMNO is a Dictator party who wanted to monopoly everything. UMNO is the one who started Racial Politic yet thye blame others trying to stir up racial issue.
written by Heavan & Hell, June 13, 2009
MCA lost Chinese support is because UMNO block and do not allow MCA to help Chinese Socially, Economically and Educationally. Similarly MIC face the same problems, UMNO is a Dictator party who wanted to monopoly everything. UMNO is the one who started Racial Politic yet thye blame others trying to stir up racial issue.
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written by Ivan lim, June 13, 2009
written by Ivan lim, June 13, 2009
If there are good people MCA,come now! SOS alarm already in BN ship....Dr Mah Hang Soon,u r not invited
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written by Margaux, June 13, 2009
written by Margaux, June 13, 2009
By just following the PKFZ debacle, we knew how involved past top guys in MCA in "wasting" the rakyat's money together with Umno. Do we still want such leeches in this country? Most of the top guys in MCA are there for the money and not to serve, and they do whacked the country big times. MCA will be gone by PRU13, unless Najib "surrendered" all the top guys involved in the PKFZ and let the court sentence them.
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written by MCAer, June 13, 2009
written by MCAer, June 13, 2009
Hi Judge and Ivan,
If there are MCA good people saying they want to make MCA better, shall we all give encouragement?
After all, a strong PR without a strong BN will be dangerous cos no balancing of powers both sides.
Or maybe we need to encourage 3rd party system.
If there are MCA good people saying they want to make MCA better, shall we all give encouragement?
After all, a strong PR without a strong BN will be dangerous cos no balancing of powers both sides.
Or maybe we need to encourage 3rd party system.
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written by Joe Ang, June 13, 2009
written by Joe Ang, June 13, 2009
OMG, MCA joining PKR? Please don't infect Pakatan with your UMNO virus.
Bar a few MCA members, the rest please stay put and don't jump ship. You are not welcome. Dalang are not welcome into Pakatan. In fact, Pakatan parties should be purging rotten apples among themselves and there are many.
Please be very selective of BN people joining Pakatan parties.
Bar a few MCA members, the rest please stay put and don't jump ship. You are not welcome. Dalang are not welcome into Pakatan. In fact, Pakatan parties should be purging rotten apples among themselves and there are many.
Please be very selective of BN people joining Pakatan parties.
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written by wkc, June 13, 2009
written by wkc, June 13, 2009
Hard to think that MCA people will give up lucrative contracts and fat projects (like PKFZ) just to join PKR to prove their "principles and morals". If they had wanted to do that, they would have done it decades ago. Anyway, no difference to us. We have DAP, Keadilan and PAS.
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written by Heavan & Hell, June 13, 2009
The downfall of MCA, MIC, GERAKAN , etc is due to UMNOPutra who wanted everythings for themself. The so call components parties are just window dressing in BN.
Even building Chinese/Tamil school as promises election after election yet another dreams.
We are getting fedup with all the excuses all the times, please do not take Non-Malays for free ride all the times.
We never question Malays Special Right or Previlege , what we question are why UMNOPUtra has so many special Rights while rural Malays and Bumi are lack behind in every field. Even mamak and second generation Indon has more rights than Malays in Malaysia. They can acquire Taxi License , Bus Permit etc... In Sabah , even Philipino has more rights tha local bumi.
UMNO continue to fool Malaysian with so called One Malaysian with Empty Dreams.
Najib , it would not work any more because this nation has ben ruined by UMNO for past 50 years.
If we Malaysian do not replace UMNO now, our childrens and our children"s childrens will suffer because your UMNO do not know how to manage a country with all nonsense going on daily.
Nothing is personal with you Mr Najib.
I still cannot figure out even in majority Chinese Penang , UMNO dare to tear Koh tsu coocon photo and this guy has no ball to cease and severe relationship with UMNO at all. Only stupid Raymonf Tan of Sabah continue to jump into sinking ship.
written by Heavan & Hell, June 13, 2009
The downfall of MCA, MIC, GERAKAN , etc is due to UMNOPutra who wanted everythings for themself. The so call components parties are just window dressing in BN.
Even building Chinese/Tamil school as promises election after election yet another dreams.
We are getting fedup with all the excuses all the times, please do not take Non-Malays for free ride all the times.
We never question Malays Special Right or Previlege , what we question are why UMNOPUtra has so many special Rights while rural Malays and Bumi are lack behind in every field. Even mamak and second generation Indon has more rights than Malays in Malaysia. They can acquire Taxi License , Bus Permit etc... In Sabah , even Philipino has more rights tha local bumi.
UMNO continue to fool Malaysian with so called One Malaysian with Empty Dreams.
Najib , it would not work any more because this nation has ben ruined by UMNO for past 50 years.
If we Malaysian do not replace UMNO now, our childrens and our children"s childrens will suffer because your UMNO do not know how to manage a country with all nonsense going on daily.
Nothing is personal with you Mr Najib.
I still cannot figure out even in majority Chinese Penang , UMNO dare to tear Koh tsu coocon photo and this guy has no ball to cease and severe relationship with UMNO at all. Only stupid Raymonf Tan of Sabah continue to jump into sinking ship.
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written by monk, June 14, 2009
written by monk, June 14, 2009
Former Cabinet minister from MCA? Mulling to join PKR?
There are many former MCA Cabinet ministers. I think they have had their time. PKR needs to move on without carrying extra baggage of those who had their perks and fat salaries.
PKR needs to scrutinize without accepting "re-con" leaders who still want positions and even a alternative government post. Only hard workers maybe. But not former warlords. PKR should recruit new talented leaders and train them up. Exceptions, Zaid Ibrahim has proven his worth.
There are many former MCA Cabinet ministers. I think they have had their time. PKR needs to move on without carrying extra baggage of those who had their perks and fat salaries.
PKR needs to scrutinize without accepting "re-con" leaders who still want positions and even a alternative government post. Only hard workers maybe. But not former warlords. PKR should recruit new talented leaders and train them up. Exceptions, Zaid Ibrahim has proven his worth.
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written by Sit On Durian, June 14, 2009
Pakatan must have Second level to back-up in any eventuality, if possible disassociate with PAS who is inconsistence its stand during time of needs.
Pakatan should contest in some PAS present area except Tok Guru and Nizar seats so as to enchance its possition to avoid holding at ransom by PAS.
We cannot be fighting UMNO with a knife always behind us.
Datuk Hadi, if you want Power & Position, I suggest you quit politics and do something else. Future Malaysia cannot be at your mercy.
written by Sit On Durian, June 14, 2009
Pakatan must have Second level to back-up in any eventuality, if possible disassociate with PAS who is inconsistence its stand during time of needs.
Pakatan should contest in some PAS present area except Tok Guru and Nizar seats so as to enchance its possition to avoid holding at ransom by PAS.
We cannot be fighting UMNO with a knife always behind us.
Datuk Hadi, if you want Power & Position, I suggest you quit politics and do something else. Future Malaysia cannot be at your mercy.
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written by Siti, June 14, 2009
written by Siti, June 14, 2009
I think MCA lost support of chinese not only because of UMNO...but because they are still fighting for chinese (pretend to be) hoping to gain back support...pls wake up!!!! U think your votes are all from chinese...NEVER!!!! Anyway....they cant do anything better....BN is the 'weirdess' alliance ever...most components of the party are based on race...just take the main 3...UMNO...MCA...MIC...fighting for different races...How can they get along together??? Because it is all 'pretend to be'...their main agenda is their own pockets...PR has to make their direction clear...all component parties need to have the same direction...BN is only a sinking ship...it will take some time because the ship is huge...the whole is more huge...they can never repair it...it is a matter of time...so PR just has to do the right thing...FOR THE RAKYAT!!!!
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written by swipenter, June 14, 2009
written by swipenter, June 14, 2009
Those who are talking of Malay unity and not a Malaysian unity are actually helping to further erode their already low support from non malays be it from BN or PR.
Umno through their bullying ways and MCA's impotence against such onslaught would eventually wipe out MCA chances of survival. Gerakan is a good example.
PAS can try the same thing as Umno and they would stand to lose all the goodwill and support from the non malays and non muslims.
It woulds be a huge mistake and a disaster for the country and any political party not to talk of a Malaysian unity but just a Malay unity for such huge and vast implications cannot escape the minds of the non malays and non muslims.
Umno through their bullying ways and MCA's impotence against such onslaught would eventually wipe out MCA chances of survival. Gerakan is a good example.
PAS can try the same thing as Umno and they would stand to lose all the goodwill and support from the non malays and non muslims.
It woulds be a huge mistake and a disaster for the country and any political party not to talk of a Malaysian unity but just a Malay unity for such huge and vast implications cannot escape the minds of the non malays and non muslims.
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written by longkang, June 14, 2009
written by longkang, June 14, 2009
PLease do not overlook Wan Azizah. She is seen to be clean, trustworty woman who is able to lead and has won the respects of many.
Najis is trying to rid anwar before the next elections, and at rate things go, he is going to succeed. Wan Azizah must ocme back to politics, and together with Zaid and Nizar, things will be in the favour of the good people.
In the meantime, pray that the plot against DSAI will not succeed.
These corrupted govt must be rid of the shit hole we are in today.Let them not use force, as what we are seeing in Iran today.
Najis is trying to rid anwar before the next elections, and at rate things go, he is going to succeed. Wan Azizah must ocme back to politics, and together with Zaid and Nizar, things will be in the favour of the good people.
In the meantime, pray that the plot against DSAI will not succeed.
These corrupted govt must be rid of the shit hole we are in today.Let them not use force, as what we are seeing in Iran today.
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Get those good ones in, forget about those ministers and those cronies.
Similarly PR should never entertain people like Hadi and Nasa who are UMNO cronies, seems like this for time being.
I think PAS is a more danger enemy in PR than the clear enemy UMNO.