The MCA Economic Congress

The MCA Economic Congress.

I was watching TV last night. The PM was at the MCA Economic Congress. I saw a number of familiar faces- my former colleagues who are still serving as MCA ADUNs and EXCOs. I sent out text- hello latuk, lu ada pecaya ka apa kita punya PM cakap? He later answered- hey Dato mana lu pegi sudah lama tak dengar? Mesti la kita pecaya- ini kita punya PM.

When I later read what transpired in the MCA's Congress, I understood why he said that. The MCA has scored a class act of a contre-coup to Ibrahim Ali's Congress.

It is ironic isn't it? UMNO hasn't done its own Congress. Not in recent years. But another organisation which claimed its politically neutral but seen as the other voice of UMNO has done so. Perkasa which is seen as the other Voice of UMNO, is led by a non UMNO man is a contradiction in terms. But it carried out an economic Congress insisting that the 30% Bumiputera presence across the entire economic spectrum must be written in stone or blood if we read in between the lines. It spoke for the Malay community.

Now, we shall see what Ibrahim Ali and gang will do. Will he go out in the streets and say Chua Soi Lek be put under ISA? Soi Lek is biadab! Soi lek is impudent, insolent and presumptuous!

The MCA leader has demanded the government jettison the 30% Malay equity requirement in the economy. That's a pincer manoeuvre. The MCA used two arms of the pincer to clip Ibrahim Ali's wings- the PM and his younger brother. Will Ibrahim also rant about Nazir Razak's cosmopolitan speech about harnessing our diversity as a leverage to be more competitive? Will he come out to say, Nazir can speak in those terms because of NEP assist and not despite it?

If he keeps quiet, then everyone in this world knows why Ibrahim Ali started as a highly vocal proponent of the 30% marker. Because to him, that is the only point to stir Malay aggression. Work on the Malay basic fears. Or we will eventually know what is Ibrahim Ali's real motivation- was he all this time posturing as a Malay's Malay so that he can be invited back into UMNO?

That would leave many of his followers in the lurch. We shall see whether his Pemuda, that chap with the 50's songkok( 5 inch high) will take to the streets or make police reports against the MCA or even Nazir Razak.

The MCA has answered Perkasa's Economic Congress by coming out with its own. It called the same person to officiate- the PM and presented in their views on the economy. They did it in a more calm and thoughtful manner. You can see the PM in a relaxed mood rather that appearing hemmed in emotionally. The MCA didn't need to use the portrait of Tun Razak. They did it the more cerebral way. Asking the PM to give an opening speech which was responded with the MCA president's speech. And they had more panache by delivering the coup de grace- inviting the PM's younger brother to give a speech on the economy.

This congress will surely re established Chua Soi Lek as an MCA leader with the strategic thinking.