The MCA started off as a political tool of the British colonial power. The party was given a licence to run the only lottery in Malaya then. The lottery in 1952, offered a RM400,000 first prize. As a condition however, all prize winners would have to join MCA after receiving their prize money.

The British allowed the MCA to make easy money but in exchange, the party had to contribute part of their windfall to the Chinese living in the new villages, with an objective to 'soften' these Chinese and at the same time turn the Chinese away from the Malayan Communist Party.

A friend of mine jokingly said to me that MCA has changed from a party that brings happiness to the Chinese (only when they strike lottery) to a party that makes the Chinese angry.

The recent public exchange between Tan Siok Choo and Ooi Kee Beng arises from the fact that Siok Choo, a granddaughter of the late Tan Cheng Lock, actually believed that her grandfather was the sole founder of MCA, while Ooi believes that there were other co-founders like HS Lee and Leong Yew Koh.

Ironically, apart from Tan Cheng Lock, the other founders of MCA like HS Lee and Leong Yew Koh were regarded as traitors to the Chinese community in the eyes of our older generations. They sold our rights for their own interest and benefits. They did not defend our rights to mother-tongue education and our equal rights as Malaysian citizens.

MCA leaders in general have done more harm than good to the Chinese community in this country. I have done research and compiled a factual account into a little book in March 2004 entitled Culprits, Accomplices, Cowards: The role of MCA in the Chinese community . No one in the MCA dares to make a rebuttal until today.

It's therefor a big joke for MCA's young leaders like Liow Tiong Lai to insinuate that the DAP is 'a party that has done nothing for Malaysians'. Before he opens his mouth the next time, he should first read the little book mentioned above.

The record of MCA is tainted with scandals, crimes and sins. There is no way for any MCA leader, no matter how eloquent he or she was or is, to beat DAP on political records or contributions to the nation.

For this reason, those who are keenly waiting for a public debate between Liow Tiong Lai and Nga Kor Meng (or Ong Ka Ting vs Lim Guan Eng) will be greatly disappointed. There is no way these two political cowards from MCA could face DAP speakers publicly.

In a most recent debate between MCA and DAP, both Ong Tee Kiat and Wee Kah Seong were thrashed by Nga and Teng. For damage control and to save faces, the organiser, who promised to record and distribute the debate in VCD form - was forced to scrap the project after much pressure from the MCA.

I did not bother to ask for a refund of the RM10 collected for this VCD.

The writer is a member of DAP's central executive committee.