COMMENT | As MCA dwells in pride with their phenomenal four-seat win in the Johor election, we are reminded of how flattery is deeply ingrained in Malaysian politics.

Prior to the Johor election, the party distanced itself from disgraced former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, to maintain a moral high ground with the Chinese community.

When ground sentiment changed and the Chinese party sensed the convicted felon was attracting more crowds than their party president Wee Ka Siong, overnight, MCA became Bossku-friendly.

The Pekan MP was campaigning in the constituencies of Johor Jaya, Gambir, Tangkak, Stulang, Skudai, Mengkibol, Bentayan, and Penggaram, which were seats MCA were least likely to win.

In a game that’s about numbers and precision in timing, the stakes...