Despite its symbiotic relationship with the ‘mainstream’ Chinese media and the abundant supply of spin doctors, MCA failed miserably to establish itself as the party of the Chinese in the general election last March.

Since then, there have been calls for it to quit the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN).

Before MCA – or other BN component party for that matter - jumps to such a conclusion, it should do some earnest soul searching and re-examine the nature of its pact with Umno. The crux of the issue is: Is MCA on equal footing with the Malay party?