Q: How well prepared is the MCA to face the general election?

A:  The MCA is fully prepared. Our national level election steering committees were set up last year to monitor the progress of all States. Since then, all divisional steering committees have also been set up and are moving into high gear, which includes door-to-door contact with the community. I have also directed all Youth members to go on a massive campaign to strengthen our ties with the people and garner more votes in the general election. We are particularly concerned about the younger voters and have increased our efforts to win them over. In a nutshell, I can say that our preparation has been comprehensive. We are constantly meeting with voters to explain to them the progress we have achieved so far, and to listen to their concerns. We want the community to be thoroughly conversant with the party and its leaders, and to explain to the people that we share their concerns and will do all we can to alleviate their hardships. I am satisfied with the preparations so far. In fact, we will soon carry out a trial run to test our preparedness.

Q: How would you describe the present status of unity within the party?

A: Unity is crucial, especially when we are about to face a general election. At this point, party unity is extremely strong, thanks to the solid leadership of party president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting and deputy president Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy. They work very well together, as a team, and are constantly driving and motivating party members to strive even harder to achieve the party’s and community’s goals. Under Datuk Seri Ong, there have been many revolutionary changes and reforms which have equipped the MCA to better serve its members and the community. One example is the amendment to the party constitution where the party president, Youth leader and Wanita head can only serve a maximum of three terms of three years each (nine years) in total. This has enabled the leadership succession plan to be put in place in a systematic manner. Then, the terms for Ministers, State Exco members, and town and district councilors have also been limited. This has created a healthy political culture within the party, enabling it to groom new blood in keeping with the times. These reforms have also generated tremendous support from within the community. There are other examples of successful reforms: the nine-point party platform proposed by Datuk Seri Ong has made a major impact on the party and community; our drive to recruit more young members is also showing major success, especially since the launch of the Under-35 Youth branches (U35). In just one year, we managed to set up more than 200 U35 branches.

We are aware, of course, that there are efforts to undermine party unity through rumours and innuendoes. These efforts have failed. What is most important is that the national leadership is united and strong, fending off any attempt to divide the MCA into factions and different camps. But members must continue to work hard to preserve this unity and the strength of the party.

 
Q: As the Youth chief, do you think the Barisan Nasional multi-party component system is still relevant?

A: Definitely yes. It provides a platform for all political parties to voice their grievances and ideas. The BN system enables all component party leaders to discuss issues in a brotherly spirit and enables us to shape and preserve harmony among the different races. This is the spirit that has for years kept Malaysia united and strong, and enabled our nation to progress. Our forefathers laid the cornerstone for us to work together in such a manner. The Alliance coalition, which later expanded into the Barisan Nasional coalition, has lasted for more than 50 years and has been extremely successful in managing the country and raising Malaysia to its present level. Most important, the constitution of this country that was agreed upon through the social contract must be upheld. Any problem we have, even if between the races, should be resolved through the right channels and in the spirit of the Federal Constitution. As Malaysia heads toward a century of independence, what we have to do as leaders in Barisan Nasional is to ensure that national unity is enhanced through closer co-operation at all levels of government and community groups.

Q: What do you see as the party’s greatest challenge for the future?

A: I strongly agree with the Prime Minister that the people need to change their mentality to become more competitive and aware of what is happening around them. In Malaysia, we have Federal, State, District and even kampong levels of administration. What is important is that the vision and direction of the Federal Government effectively reaches the lowest rungs of administration, which, in turn, will help the people. We have very credible and effective policies drawn up at national levels, but the implementation sometimes leaves much to be desired. As a result, our message does not seep down to the ground, or it reaches the grassroots in a distorted form. I feel the distribution channels must be smoothened so that everyone is able to understand and participate in what the Federal Government is trying to achieve.

Another thing that needs immediate attention is the issue of corruption, which has been the undoing of several countries, both in the developing world and the developed world. The war against corruption must be relentless and concerted. It is not something that can be undertaken only by a few brave and dedicated souls. We need the full support and co-operation of the people, all our people. Curbing corruption will provide a major boost to the service-delivery system in our country. Fortunately, the use of the Internet to carry out various transactions has helped cut down red tape and hence, the opportunities for corruption in the delivery system. The Internet procurement system must be enhanced even further from time to time.
 

Q: What is the MCA Youth’s biggest task at the moment?

A: Talking about global views is not enough. The issue is how we are going to get our young people to recognize the importance of the changes sweeping the world and raise their level of competitiveness. We always talk about globalization but seldom explain to people how to rise to the challenge. Our young people, and not just those in urban centres, must get connected to the world. They must know how to harness the strengths of our country and leverage those strengths into an asset that can help them compete globally. For example, Malaysia’s ethnic, religious and cultural diversity and its vibrant pluralism is a terrific competitive advantage in this interconnected, interdependent world we are living in. But many appear not to want to recognize this vital asset that can provide us with a springboard to global success. The choice is simple and stark: We can either continue quarrelling about our multi-racialism or use it to our advantage. And at a time when the world is moving at warp speed, we need to decide swiftly. The global market waits for no one, not even a successful country like Malaysia. To focus on  our internal squabbling and playing the blame game with one another only saps us of our energy and distracts us from trying to achieve our full potential. Winning local battles is going to do us no good if it obstructs Malaysia from winning the larger, global war for prosperity.

Q: Is the Chinese community prepared to work with the other races for the overall growth and development of the country?

A: That question appears to imply that the Chinese community has not been doing this in Malaysia’s 50 years of independence as a sovereign nation. I cannot disagree more with that implication. The Chinese community has amply demonstrated in the past, and continues to do so now, that we will work together as Malaysians with all other communities in the country to help the nation prosper. In fact, the statistics clearly demonstrate that the Chinese community is the one that provides the government with the highest tax revenue of any community in Malaysia. We have always been, and will continue to be, hard-working, productive citizens of of Malaysia, our home. Whatever networks and knowledge the Chinese community has accumulated has always been placed in the service of the country. Politically, what Chinese Malaysians are seeking is the same as what Malaysians from every other community are seeking: a fair platform that enables everyone to work together for the mutual benefit of their communities and the nation. Take for example the pig-farming issue in Malacca recently. From a socio-economic point of view, pig farming is part of the country’s agriculture sector. Members of the Chinese community involved in this activity were doing well, which in turn means they were tax-paying, productive members of the Malaysian community. If the issue related to pig-farming was pollution, then it is this issue that should be addressed. The farmers should be given a set of procedures to follow, which should be clearly explained to them, and if they don’t follow these rules, then action could have been taken. There was absolutely no need for it to be turned into a racial issue aimed at closing down pig farms which, again, are acknowledged as part and parcel of the nation’s agriculture sector. It was completely unnecessary.

Q: Would you say there is any other dissatisfaction among the Chinese community?

A: Like all Malaysian communities, the Chinese community is deeply concerned about the future of its children. We all live in a different era now, one that demands that our younger generation are given the opportunity early enough to foster the skills and mind-sets that can help them, and the country, thrive in this very challenging time. We believe we need to start developing professionals and entrepreneurs among our young from a very early age. Given this need, it is high time that the Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Ministry do much more to train entrepreneurs from all communities. We are all Malaysians, and only by working together and staying united can we help our homeland prosper in the future. We no longer can spend time or energy worrying that one particular race will do better or overtake another. By opening up opportunities to all races, there will definitely be greater unity and we can learn from each other’s strengths and shortcomings. The Prime Minister has publicly made clear that he, and the Barisan Nasional government he leads, want nothing less for Malaysia. The country is rich not only in natural resources but in human capital as well. It is time for us to maximize this human capital and provide them with the right exposure, expertise and opportunities so that they can take Malaysia to even greater heights.