MCA pledges to bounce back from GE13 setback: Chong

SEREMBAN: The MCA is determined to return with a vengeance and win more seats in the 14th General Election (GE14), after a lacklustre performance in the GE13.
In GE13, MCA won only seven out of the 37 parliamentary seats it contested and 11 state seats out of the 90 seats contested.
Even though belittled by the opposition as no longer relevant to fulfil the aspirations and hopes of the people, especially the Chinese community in the country, it motivates the team under the leadership of party president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai to continue to raise the people's confidence towards the party.
MCA Youth Chief, Datuk Chong Sin Woon in an interview with Bernama admitted that MCA's previous internal problems had caused many Chinese to turn away from the party.
"From 2008 to 2013, how many times we held the EGM (extraordinary general meeting) until the Chinese did not want to see any news related to the MCA. But after three years under Datuk Seri Liow, there is no more 'Team A', 'Team B' and no more EGM being called to bring down anyone," he said.
Elaborating on the GE13, Chong said it served as a lesson and MCA was now working hard to improve the confidence of the general public.
"Many Chinese said that the assemblymen and members of the parliament from the opposition had not done their duty in the past five years. So in my opinion, their support towards the opposition this time around, is unlikely to be as high as before," he said.
On the community's current support for the MCA, Chong, who is also Education Deputy Minister, said the strong unity shown by the party leadership had given a positive impact on the patterns of the support.
"At the same time, we also see Chinese non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are back with the MCA. Previously, these NGOs did not want to be seen with the MCA, but under the leadership of Datuk Seri Liow, the annual dialogues and programmes organised by the MCA received a warm welcome from them.
"So, these are all signs that we have begun to regain the support of the people. I cannot say that the majority of Chinese have returned to MCA or BN, but if compared to the last general election, today's situation is much better," he said.
Chong said the 68-year-old MCA was also determined to restore its glory days and remain as a platform of the struggle of the multi-racial society in the country.
"The party is determined to get at least 15 or 20 parliamentary seats in the GE14. We do not want to put an unachievable target but we want to get at least 15 to 20 parliamentary seats.
"However, the target will only be realised if the party selects winnable candidates and carries out the right kind of campaigns," he said.
Chong, who is the BN candidate for the Seremban parliamentary seat, said MCA was taking a proactive measure by determining the candidates in advance to make it easier for them to do their work
"We are nominating more new and young candidates to give our voters a new option.
"I'm grateful to the central leadership for giving more young people, both men and women, a chance to bring about a new image of the MCA to the multi-racial community," he said, adding that he was determined to win the Seremban parliamentary seat in the GE14.
"I will do my best to ensure the Seremban parliamentary constituency can contribute one seat for the formation of the federal government," he said.
Last December, Liow had announced that Chong would be the party's candidate for the Seremban parliamentary seat when the party president was visiting the Seremban Central Market. — Bernama