‘I am sure that move will create a tremendous swing of support from all the non-Malays in the country. That move will definitely cast the opposition into irrelevance.'

On MCA wants second deputy BN chief's post

Braveheart: I sincerely applaud outgoing MCA Youth chief Liow Tiong Lai's view. Finally somebody is speaking from the 'star in the sky'.

I feel MCA has been supportive of BN even when Umno was being bashed up beyond recognition.

Both MCA and Gerakan were loyal despite immense pressure from grassroots to make an affirmative stand that reflected the people's actual sentiment.

Having a second deputy BN chief from another party outside Umno would be a great way for Umno to express their gratitude and sincerity that Umno cares for all races.

A better way would be to make the MCA chief the deputy prime minister.

I am sure that move will create a tremendous swing of support from all the non-Malays in the country. That move will definitely cast the opposition into irrelevance.

While this may sound radical, the real question is ‘What's wrong with it?' The prime minister is still from Umno. Malay rights will still be protected by the PM and the Rulers.

Ron:

As a young Malaysian of Chinese ethnicity, I believe the whole racial premise of BN is outdated and wrong.

It matters not to me if the prime minister, deputy prime minister etc is a Malay, Chinese, Indian etc, so long as he (or even she) is honourable and capable in the role to serve the rakyat regardless of their race.

It is time we see past the cloak of racial representation in government.

Humility, honesty, justice and integrity are universal qualities that transcend race and anyone possessing such attributes are worthy of support from the rakyat, while anyone not qualified to be in a leadership position should be condemned.

What difference does it make if my race is represented in a top seat of government but they are all crooks anyway?

In the same light, I would gladly give my support to respectable, progressive and courageous leaders like Zaid Ibrahim.

If all of Umno were like him, I'd happily see Umno take the top posts, but sadly, that is not the case.

Eileen:

In order to appease the Chinese voters, Umno may even now create ten posts for MCA. But, in reality, do you think they will listen to you?

Looks like 50 years of experience is still not long enough to send a wake-up call to the leaders in MCA. Why? Because they are self-seekers. Enough is enough, don't take us voters for fools.

On Proposal needs further study, says Hishammuddin

Timo Finian: '...the proposal needs further study' is a cliched line commonly used by Umno-types when they don't really agree to the idea.

It is quite obvious that Hishammuddin and Muhyiddin are not comfortable with the idea. Well, sooner or later they and their kind will have to come to terms if they want to ensure their own survival.

Hisham would be well advised to take a leaf out of his grandfather's book and move forward.

As much as they would like to deny it, Umno needs the 'crutches of the other component parties' to stand on its own feet, without which they are doomed.

On No urgent need for deputy BN chief post

Justice League: ‘Responding to a call made by MCA Youth yesterday, Umno vice-president Muhyiddin Yassin says that the current vice-president's posts are adequate.'

Whoever said Umno is dominant? It is just that what they decide stays.

On Abdullah: Umno is not a bully

Kaisim:

The PM is not a bully because he is known by all as Mr Nice Guy.

But we need to look at Umno as one leading component in the BN and how its leaders treating the smaller BN component parties.

Most of the time we do not see action being taken to improve the situation but instead they ignore it as if nothing has gone wrong.

Hence, Umno members get the feeling that they have the green light to say and do what they like.

Don`to blame the opposition. Blame ourselves for not being able to do the right thing.

The Chinese and other minority groups are not that foolish to accept anything being said by the opposition. We know that this is a game of politics.

Mr Nice Guy can always find out the number of incidents when the state and other Umno members have said unpleasant things during their ceramah sessions.

Dr Koh Tsu Koon will take a long time to forget that his photo has been torn and stepped on by Umno members. And so to members of the PPP who have consistently been asked to ‘get lost' from BN.

A new era has come for the MCA to re-brand itself. The old ways will make MCA lose more Chinese votes.

It is difficult to make changes in BN because it is Umno-controlled but adjustments in MCA are possible if the new leaders are not corrupt and selfish.

John Johnson:

What a farce, Umno not a bully.

Look at the situation - when Hindraf express the views and problems of a marginalised people, they are thrown in jail and their society is banned from being a legal body.

When one of their own is a racist and utters words of hate and incites violence, he is let off scot-free with just a rap on his knuckles. When RPK speaks the truth, he is arrested and thrown in jail.

Just because of hearsay, a female opposition rep from Pakatan is arrested and put under the ISA.

If this is not intimidation or bullying then I must go back to school to further my education.

Thanks Mr Prime Minister, you are really something else.

On ...but MCA says Umno dominates BN

Ariram: MCA is showing good signs of improvement from the old mentality of being a ‘yes man' to Umno.

Gerakan has started to question the BN's discriminative policies and has given valuable suggestions and advice for BN's reformation.

Now MCA is getting more vocal in highlighting their grievances. The MIC has yet to join the group but it is hoped they will also join their BN counterparts in highlighting their opinions and grievances boldly and vocally.

This is a good news for all Malaysians. It will be a serious mistake on the part of Umno if they still want to be in a state of denial.

However, the state of denial will eventually allow the opposition to take over the country in next election.

At that time, all will be too late for Umno to recover or revive itself. They are also going to bring down the BN coalition with them.

It is interesting to observe how a ruling party like Umno is getting more irrelevant to the people day by day.

Eileen:

I wonder why when leaders are in power they dare not tell the truth?

So, finally, Ong Ka Ting is telling the truth now about Umno being the tai kor or big bully for that matter and that the other component parties (like MCA) have to sing Umno's tunes all the time.

Another good example is when Gerakan lost its ground in Penang in the last general election after which Lim Keng Yaik also came out with the truth that they had been treated like beggars in BN all the while.

If the above scenarios do not portray hypocrisy in our BN leaders, what does?

Dann-munti:

Did the outgoing MCA president really say the power-sharing principle in BN was not properly practiced? If he did and meant it, why wait till now after he stepped down?

He should have been bold enough to voice his concern while he was still the MCA leader in the BN cabinet. This could only reflect the true colours of yet another pathetic politician.

Will the newly-elected leaders revive the true spirit of the Alliance in the 1950s? Of the tripartite Umno, MCA and MIC? Most probably not.

It will be like the new wine in the old bottle; nothing much would or perhaps could change. Poor MCA is to be led by the nose for many more years to come.