The MCA party elections have come and gone and while there is a fresh set of faces at the top of the leadership ranks within the party, we do not think that MCA can effectively check the power of Umno within the Barisan Nasional and regain any of the non-Malay votes it lost in the March general election.

While it is very likely that MCA and Gerakan will not be silent after another keris-waving incident at an Umno general assembly, those who are hoping for the demands of MCA to be translated into actual policy are likely to be disappointed.

MCA was certainly vocal during its recent general assembly by calling for a deputy BN chairman position and possibly even a deputy prime minister position. But no matter how much MCA complains, these complaints will only fall on the deaf ears of Umno leaders. In other words, this relationship is doomed for failure.