MCA president Liow Tiong Lai is concerned the country will head towards extremism if Chinese voters do not swing back to BN in the coming general election.

In an exclusive interview with Sin Chew Daily, Liow said he was more concerned about what would happen when such a swing does not happen, rather than how his party would perform in the coming general election.

MCA only won seven out of 37 parliamentary seats and 11 out of 90 state seats it contested in the 2013 general election.

Liow fears Umno and PAS may cooperate and the country would end up practising racial politics.

Thus, he said, MCA needs a stronger political power as a bargaining chip to negotiate with Umno under the current circumstances.

"We have very little power to bargain with Umno and it is tough," he said.

Being a practical community, Liow said, the Malaysian Chinese should understand the country's political ecosystem and situation.

He claimed that Umno would not concede defeat and would continue to stay in power even if BN was ousted in the 14th general election.

"Who is the biggest opposition party if BN is toppled? Umno. Will Umno give up its ruling power easily? No. It will work with any Pakatan Harapan party to form the government.

"Harapan is not a political coalition, but only a marriage of convenience," he added.

Liow said the fact that opposition parties contest under their own banners showed that they would be willing to form a government with any party.

"Once the economic fundamental breaks down, the country's economy will collapse and repression will hit us. It will be hard to recover," he said.