Malaysian Chinese Association
Encyclopedia
Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) is a uni-racial political party in Malaysia that represents the Malaysian Chinese
ethnicity; it is one of the three major component parties of the ruling coalition in Malaysia called the Barisan Nasional
(BN) in Malay, or National Front in English.
Along with the largest and third largest component party in BN, i.e. United Malays National Organisation
(UMNO) and Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), MCA has a strong influence over the political arena in Malaysia. Through its substantial holding of companies such as Huaren Holdings, MCA also controls five other significant media press companies, i.e., The Star
, being Malaysia's best-selling English language newspaper Sin Chew Jit Poh
, Nanyang Siang Pau
, and China Press
, being three of the best-selling Chinese newspapers in Kuala Lumpur
and Central Region of West Malaysia; and Guang Ming Daily
being a smaller press in northern West Malaysia as the owner of these four presses are owned by media tycoon Tiong Hiew King where his family members are the major party of the ruling coalition in Sarawak. Over the years, the domination of media press caused major resentments in the sub-divided party, with a so-called "Team B" of the MCA and the press reporters for breaching freedom of the press
in the country.
MCA performed poorly in the last general election
held in 2008. This, along with continued factionalism has raised concerns over the party's relevance in the Malaysian political arena.
did not go down well with the Chinese, whereby favourable conditions for obtaining citizenship for the Chinese and other non-Malays were withdrawn. The Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) was formed on February 27, 1949 under the leadership of a Straits Chinese businessman, Tan Cheng Lock
who frequently raised grievances over the citizenship terms that were set when the Federation was established. As a result, communal tensions between the Malays and Chinese surfaced, and Onn Jaafar
, who was then leader of the United Malays National Organisation
, kept his distance from Tan.
Tan was a former member of the Malayan Anti-Japanese League. However, the initial members of the MCA were mainly Kuomintang
(KMT) members who joined as an alternative and also in opposition to the Malayan Communist Party
. This formation was with the implicit support by post-World War II British Reoccupation Authority. At that time, the MCA members then were divided according to their respective home states.
The first leaders of the MCA were Kuomintang army leaders. Leong Yew Koh, was a KMT major general who became a cabinet minister and later became governor of Malacca
; Malaysia's first minister of finance, Tun Henry H.S. Lee, was a colonel; and Dr Lim Chong Eu
, the leader of the Radical Party
, and joined the MCA in 1952, was a colonel (medical) doctor in the Kuomintang.
Tan Cheng Lock did not enter the cabinet on independence. This was believed to be because his rival, Tun H.S. Lee, from Selangor
, was in. Others thought that this was due to health reasons.
were held on May 10, 1969. Of the 33 parliamentary seats contested, the Malaysian Chinese Association managed only to retain 13. The MCA lost control of the Penang State Government. In 1974, Tan Siew Sin resigned from all of his party and government posts on April 8 for "health reasons".
, who was sacked from the party a year earlier, won the presidential election with the largest majority in the party's history. However, in the following year, he was charged with abetting criminal breach of trust relating to his private business dealings in Singapore
, and resigned from the presidency. Koon Swan also originated the Deposit-Taking Cooperative
s (DTCs), which sought to accumulate capital for Chinese Malaysians through investments. The mismanagement of the DTCs' funds led to a scandal, with the central bank, Bank Negara Malaysia
, stepping in to freeze the assets of up to 35 DTCs. The total loss was estimated to be RM3.6 billion, and the depositors only recovered 62% of their deposits.
Koon Swan was succeeded by his deputy Ling Liong Sik
, then 43. He assumed the presidency when the party was still rife with factionalism and faced disillusionment with the Chinese community over the Deposit-Taking Cooperatives scandal. Ling spent his early years as president working to resolve MCA's financial problems, raising funds throughout the nation while restructuring the party's assets. Internal power struggles continued as Ling was nearly challenged for the presidency by his deputy Lee Kim Sai
, who withdrew at the eleventh hour. Lee eventually retired in 1996 and was replaced as deputy president by Lim Ah Lek.
Ling then presided over a period of relative peace within the party, and worked to maintain the interests of the Chinese community through a quiet, closed-door approach within the government. He expanded the MCA-owned Tunku Abdul Rahman College
through fund-raising and government contributions, as well as set up Tunku Abdul Rahman University
in 2001. At the height of his power, MCA performed well in the 1995
and 1999 general elections
, boosting the party's standing within the Barisan Nasional coalition as well as Ling's personal relationship with BN leader and prime minister Mahathir Mohamad.
However, by 1999, factionalism began to rear its ugly head in the party again. Deputy president Lim Ah Lek announced his intention to retire as a minister and agreed with Ling to nominate his protégé Chan Kong Choy
to the Cabinet after the 1999 elections. However, Ling nominated his own protégé Ong Ka Ting
as a minister at the expense of Chan, causing discontent with members aligned to Lim, which became known as "Team B" among party members. The Ling faction was known as "Team A."
Tensions flared further after MCA, through its holding company Huaren, moved to acquire the independent daily Nanyang Siang Pau
. This was vehemently opposed by Team B, fearing a complete control of the Chinese media by Team A. They were joined by Chinese journalists and non-governmental organisations, who made their opposition public through demonstrations. The situation got farcical when chairs were thrown during the 2001 Youth general assembly over the issue. Huaren eventually succeeded in taking over Nanyang Siang Pau.
Mahathir, as BN leader, eventually stepped in to resolve the conflict, suggesting a "peace plan" among the factions. The scheduled 2002 party elections were cancelled, while Ling and Lim were to step down and be replaced by their respective protégés.
's overwhelming victory in the 2004 general elections
. During the 2005 party elections, Teams A and B ran on a united front, easily quashing the challenge by vice president Chua Jui Meng
(for president) and secretary-general Ting Chew Peh (for deputy president).
The Ong-Chan leadership continued the soft approach to protecting the Chinese community's interests. Meanwhile, racial issues flared up again after the 2004 election, with then United Malays National Organisation
Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein
's waving of a keris in public being the most significant event.
In early 2008, vice president and Health Minister Chua Soi Lek
, a prominent Johor
member, was involved in a sex scandal. DVDs of Chua having sex with a woman were circulated in Johor, prompting Chua to resign all his political positions, including as Member of Parliament. Chua blamed his political enemies within the party for plotting his downfall, covertly accusing them of feeling threatened by him.
In the March 2008 general elections
, MCA fared badly, winning only 15 parliamentary seats and 32 state seats, less than half the number of seats they won in the previous election. Ong decided not to contest the presidency during the party elections later that year, to allow a new leader to take over. The October 2008 party election marked a realignment of the party's factions, with the return of Chua Soi Lek to the fold. Ong Ka Ting's (non-publicly) anointed successor was vice president Ong Tee Keat
. Meanwhile, Chua entered the race for deputy president, facing among others, Ong Ka Chuan
, the elder brother of Ka Ting. Ong Tee Keat won the presidency comfortably, while Chua edged out Ka Chuan. Following his victory, Tee Keat pledged reform and reaching out to more young voters in order to revive the party.
Despite being shot down for the second time by the party, Chua refused to give in. His supporters forced an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) which passed a vote of no confidence against incumbent president Ong and annulled the expulsion of Chua. The EGM, however, failed to reinstate Chua as deputy president. Ong and Chua both refused to resign, and pledged to set aside their differences under the "greater unity plan." However, this was opposed by vice president Liow Tiong Lai
, previously aligned to Ong, who demanded Ong step down after losing the vote of confidence and that new elections be held. This set in motion a new leadership crisis, which lasted almost six months.
Finally in March 2010, Chua, along with his supporters in the central committee (CC) resigned. Along with the resignations of Liow's supporters in the CC, more than two-thirds of the CC had vacated their seats, paving the way for an election per the party constitution. The subsequent election saw Chua defeating incumbent Ong Tee Keat and former leader Ong Ka Ting in the race for president, while Liow defeated Kong Cho Ha
in the contest for deputy president.
Chua, as president, and his deputy Liow have pledged to cooperate, despite leading different factions, a pattern that has repeated itself in the MCA over the years.
admitted that he was the person featured in a sex DVD that was circulated in Johor. He claimed no involvement in the filming or production of the DVD in question. [4] On January 2, 2008, he formally announced his resignation from all posts including Member of Parliament for Labis, Vice Presidency of the MCA, and as Health Minister at a press conference.[5]
In the same month, MCA leader Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun warned her Chinese voters for not letting fewer MCA representatives happen in Barisan Nasional in order to prevent another May 13, 1969 riot
from happening. This has caused a major resentment in the Chinese community as their smaller existence in the Barisan Nasional coalition are told to cause a new riot to break out. http://chinhuatw.wordpress.com/2008/01/22/chew-mei-fun-another-may-13-if-chinese-representation-in-bn-is-insufficient/
On 10 October 2009, an Emergency General Meeting was held. A vote of no confidence against Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat
got through by 14 votes while Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek failed to be reinstated as deputy president. The delegates, however, voted for Dr Chua to remain as a MCA member.
Acting President
Malaysian Chinese
Malaysian Chinese is a Malaysian of Chinese origin. Most are descendants of Chinese who arrived between the fifteenth and the mid-twentieth centuries. Within Malaysia, they are usually simply referred to as "Chinese" in all languages. The term Chinese Malaysian is also sometimes used to refer to...
ethnicity; it is one of the three major component parties of the ruling coalition in Malaysia called the Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence...
(BN) in Malay, or National Front in English.
Along with the largest and third largest component party in BN, i.e. United Malays National Organisation
United Malays National Organisation
The United Malays National Organisation, is Malaysia's largest political party; a founding member of the National Front coalition, which has played a dominant role in Malaysian politics since independence....
(UMNO) and Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), MCA has a strong influence over the political arena in Malaysia. Through its substantial holding of companies such as Huaren Holdings, MCA also controls five other significant media press companies, i.e., The Star
The Star (Malaysia)
The Star is an English-language, tabloid-format newspaper in Malaysia. It is the largest in terms of circulation in Malaysia, according to the . It has a daily circulation of between 290,000 to 300,000...
, being Malaysia's best-selling English language newspaper Sin Chew Jit Poh
Sin Chew Jit Poh
Sin Chew Daily （formerly known as Sin Chew Jit Poh）, is a leading Chinese-language newspaper in Malaysia. According to report from the Audit Bureau of Circulation for the period ending 30 June 2009, Sin Chew Daily has an average daily circulation of some 400,000 copies...
, Nanyang Siang Pau
Nanyang Siang Pau
Nanyang Siang Pau or Nanyang Business Daily was founded by philanthropist-entrepreneur Tan Kah Kee on 6 September 1923 in Singapore, currently published in Malaysia...
, and China Press
China Press
China Press is a Malaysian Chinese-language newspaper set up by Tun Henry Lee Hau Shik and first published on 1 February 1946....
, being three of the best-selling Chinese newspapers in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
and Central Region of West Malaysia; and Guang Ming Daily
Guang Ming
Guang Ming Daily was previously known as Sin Pin Daily , Sin Pin Daily was founded by the Aw brothers which have also started Sin Chew Daily...
being a smaller press in northern West Malaysia as the owner of these four presses are owned by media tycoon Tiong Hiew King where his family members are the major party of the ruling coalition in Sarawak. Over the years, the domination of media press caused major resentments in the sub-divided party, with a so-called "Team B" of the MCA and the press reporters for breaching freedom of the press
Freedom of the press
Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the freedom of communication and expression through vehicles including various electronic media and published materials...
in the country.
MCA performed poorly in the last general election
Malaysian general election, 2008
The 12th Malaysian general election was held on March 8, 2008, in accordance with Malaysian laws for national elections, which states that a general election must be held no later than five years subsequent to the previous elections; the previous general election was held in 2004...
held in 2008. This, along with continued factionalism has raised concerns over the party's relevance in the Malaysian political arena.
Formation
The establishment of the Federation of MalayaFederation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
did not go down well with the Chinese, whereby favourable conditions for obtaining citizenship for the Chinese and other non-Malays were withdrawn. The Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) was formed on February 27, 1949 under the leadership of a Straits Chinese businessman, Tan Cheng Lock
Tan Cheng Lock
Tun Dato Sri Sir Cheng-lock Tan, DPMJ, KBE was a Malaysian Chinese businessman and a key public figure who devoted his life to fighting for the rights and the social welfare of the Chinese community in Malaya...
who frequently raised grievances over the citizenship terms that were set when the Federation was established. As a result, communal tensions between the Malays and Chinese surfaced, and Onn Jaafar
Onn Jaafar
Dato' Sir Onn bin Ja'afar, KBE was a Malay politician and a Menteri Besar of Johore in Malaysia, then Malaya. He was the founder of United Malays National Organization and was also responsible for the social economic welfare of the Malays by setting up the Rural Industrial Development Authority...
, who was then leader of the United Malays National Organisation
United Malays National Organisation
The United Malays National Organisation, is Malaysia's largest political party; a founding member of the National Front coalition, which has played a dominant role in Malaysian politics since independence....
, kept his distance from Tan.
Tan was a former member of the Malayan Anti-Japanese League. However, the initial members of the MCA were mainly Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
(KMT) members who joined as an alternative and also in opposition to the Malayan Communist Party
Malayan Communist Party
The Malayan Communist Party , officially known as the Communist Party of Malaya , was founded in 1930 and laid down its arms in 1989. It is most famous for its role in the Malayan Emergency.-Formation:...
. This formation was with the implicit support by post-World War II British Reoccupation Authority. At that time, the MCA members then were divided according to their respective home states.
The first leaders of the MCA were Kuomintang army leaders. Leong Yew Koh, was a KMT major general who became a cabinet minister and later became governor of Malacca
Malacca
Malacca , dubbed The Historic State or Negeri Bersejarah among locals) is the third smallest Malaysian state, after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and the state of Johor to the south...
; Malaysia's first minister of finance, Tun Henry H.S. Lee, was a colonel; and Dr Lim Chong Eu
Lim Chong Eu
Tun Dato' Seri Dr. Lim Chong Eu was a Malaysian politician who served as the second Chief Minister of Penang for a record 21 years. He was also the founding president of Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia, a member of the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional. He was termed the "Architect of Modern...
, the leader of the Radical Party
Radical Party
-France:*Radical Party *Radical Party of the Left -Italy:*Radical Party *Radical Party *Italian Radicals *Radicals of the Left -Luxembourg:*Radical Party...
, and joined the MCA in 1952, was a colonel (medical) doctor in the Kuomintang.
Tan Cheng Lock did not enter the cabinet on independence. This was believed to be because his rival, Tun H.S. Lee, from Selangor
Selangor
Selangor also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity") is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west...
, was in. Others thought that this was due to health reasons.
Post-May 1969 riots
The third Malaysian general electionsElections in Malaysia
Elections in Malaysia exist at two levels: national level and state level. National level elections are those for membership in the Dewan Rakyat, the lower house of Parliament, while state level elections are for membership in the various State Legislative Assemblies...
were held on May 10, 1969. Of the 33 parliamentary seats contested, the Malaysian Chinese Association managed only to retain 13. The MCA lost control of the Penang State Government. In 1974, Tan Siew Sin resigned from all of his party and government posts on April 8 for "health reasons".
1985–2003
In 1985, Tan Koon SwanTan Koon Swan
Tan Koon Swan is a controversial Malaysian political and corporate figure, who was president of the Malaysian Chinese Association from November 1985 to September 1986.Tan first entered the political fray in the late 1970s...
, who was sacked from the party a year earlier, won the presidential election with the largest majority in the party's history. However, in the following year, he was charged with abetting criminal breach of trust relating to his private business dealings in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, and resigned from the presidency. Koon Swan also originated the Deposit-Taking Cooperative
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
s (DTCs), which sought to accumulate capital for Chinese Malaysians through investments. The mismanagement of the DTCs' funds led to a scandal, with the central bank, Bank Negara Malaysia
Bank Negara Malaysia
Bank Negara Malaysia is the Malaysian central bank. Established on January 26, 1959 as the Bank Negara Malaya, its main purpose was to issue currency, act as banker and adviser to the Government of Malaysia and regulate the country's credit situation...
, stepping in to freeze the assets of up to 35 DTCs. The total loss was estimated to be RM3.6 billion, and the depositors only recovered 62% of their deposits.
Koon Swan was succeeded by his deputy Ling Liong Sik
Ling Liong Sik
Tun Dr. Ling Liong Sik is a retired Malaysian politician.He was president of the Malaysian Chinese Association, and the Malaysian Minister for Transport...
, then 43. He assumed the presidency when the party was still rife with factionalism and faced disillusionment with the Chinese community over the Deposit-Taking Cooperatives scandal. Ling spent his early years as president working to resolve MCA's financial problems, raising funds throughout the nation while restructuring the party's assets. Internal power struggles continued as Ling was nearly challenged for the presidency by his deputy Lee Kim Sai
Lee Kim Sai
Tan Sri Lee Kim Sai is a Malaysian politician. In the 1980s and 1990s, he served as Health Minister, Labour Minister and Housing and Local Government Minister....
, who withdrew at the eleventh hour. Lee eventually retired in 1996 and was replaced as deputy president by Lim Ah Lek.
Ling then presided over a period of relative peace within the party, and worked to maintain the interests of the Chinese community through a quiet, closed-door approach within the government. He expanded the MCA-owned Tunku Abdul Rahman College
Tunku Abdul Rahman College
Tunku Abdul Rahman College, often known as TARC or KTAR, is a public institution of higher learning in Malaysia. It has six campuses located in six states across Malaysia. While having close links to Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman , the college and the university are separate entities...
through fund-raising and government contributions, as well as set up Tunku Abdul Rahman University
Tunku Abdul Rahman University
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman is a private, coeducational university based in Malaysia. Established in 2001, it is renowned for courses such as business, finance, accounting, medicine, Chinese medicine, science, and journalism.-History:...
in 2001. At the height of his power, MCA performed well in the 1995
Malaysian general election, 1995
General elections were held in Malaysia on 25 April 1995. The result was a victory for the UMNO-led Barisan Nasional, which won 162 of the 192 seats. Voter turnout was 68.3%.-Results:...
and 1999 general elections
Malaysian general election, 1999
The 1999 Malaysian General Election was held on 29 November 1999 as stipulated by the laws of Malaysia for general elections. As expected, the Barisan Nasional coalition maintained its majority in parliament, and thus, its grip on the post of Prime Minister....
, boosting the party's standing within the Barisan Nasional coalition as well as Ling's personal relationship with BN leader and prime minister Mahathir Mohamad.
However, by 1999, factionalism began to rear its ugly head in the party again. Deputy president Lim Ah Lek announced his intention to retire as a minister and agreed with Ling to nominate his protégé Chan Kong Choy
Chan Kong Choy
Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy was a Malaysian politician and the former deputy president of the Malaysian Chinese Association, a component part of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition...
to the Cabinet after the 1999 elections. However, Ling nominated his own protégé Ong Ka Ting
Ong Ka Ting
Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting is a Malaysian politician and a former Minister of Housing and Local Government in the Malaysian cabinet. He is also the former President of the Malaysian Chinese Association and is the Member of Parliament for Kulai.-Early life:...
as a minister at the expense of Chan, causing discontent with members aligned to Lim, which became known as "Team B" among party members. The Ling faction was known as "Team A."
Tensions flared further after MCA, through its holding company Huaren, moved to acquire the independent daily Nanyang Siang Pau
Nanyang Siang Pau
Nanyang Siang Pau or Nanyang Business Daily was founded by philanthropist-entrepreneur Tan Kah Kee on 6 September 1923 in Singapore, currently published in Malaysia...
. This was vehemently opposed by Team B, fearing a complete control of the Chinese media by Team A. They were joined by Chinese journalists and non-governmental organisations, who made their opposition public through demonstrations. The situation got farcical when chairs were thrown during the 2001 Youth general assembly over the issue. Huaren eventually succeeded in taking over Nanyang Siang Pau.
Mahathir, as BN leader, eventually stepped in to resolve the conflict, suggesting a "peace plan" among the factions. The scheduled 2002 party elections were cancelled, while Ling and Lim were to step down and be replaced by their respective protégés.
2003–2008
In May 2003, the leadership transition occurred as planned. Ong Ka Ting, who was then a vice president succeeded Ling Liong Sik as president, while Chan Kong Choy succeeded Lim Ah Lek as deputy president. The Ong-led MCA contributed to Barisan NasionalBarisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence...
's overwhelming victory in the 2004 general elections
Malaysian general election, 2004
General elections were held in Malaysia on March 21, 2004. The incumbent National Front government of Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was re-elected with an increased majority.-Election results:...
. During the 2005 party elections, Teams A and B ran on a united front, easily quashing the challenge by vice president Chua Jui Meng
Chua Jui Meng
Dato' Chua Jui Meng ; born October 22, 1943) is a Malaysian politician from the state of Johor. He was the country's longest serving Minister of Health, holding that position from 1990 to 2004....
(for president) and secretary-general Ting Chew Peh (for deputy president).
The Ong-Chan leadership continued the soft approach to protecting the Chinese community's interests. Meanwhile, racial issues flared up again after the 2004 election, with then United Malays National Organisation
United Malays National Organisation
The United Malays National Organisation, is Malaysia's largest political party; a founding member of the National Front coalition, which has played a dominant role in Malaysian politics since independence....
Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein
Hishammuddin Hussein
Datuk Seri Panglima Hishammuddin bin Tun Hussein is a Malaysian politician and member of the United Malays National Organisation . He is the current Malaysian Minister of Home Affairs. He is the former Minister of Education, having served from 2004 to 2009. He has been mentioned as a likely...
's waving of a keris in public being the most significant event.
In early 2008, vice president and Health Minister Chua Soi Lek
Chua Soi Lek
Datuk Seri Dr. Chua Soi Lek ; born 2 January 1947, also known as Chua Kin Seng, is a Malaysian politician from the state of Johor. He is married to Datin Seri Wong Sek Hin. They have three children...
, a prominent Johor
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
member, was involved in a sex scandal. DVDs of Chua having sex with a woman were circulated in Johor, prompting Chua to resign all his political positions, including as Member of Parliament. Chua blamed his political enemies within the party for plotting his downfall, covertly accusing them of feeling threatened by him.
In the March 2008 general elections
Malaysian general election, 2008
The 12th Malaysian general election was held on March 8, 2008, in accordance with Malaysian laws for national elections, which states that a general election must be held no later than five years subsequent to the previous elections; the previous general election was held in 2004...
, MCA fared badly, winning only 15 parliamentary seats and 32 state seats, less than half the number of seats they won in the previous election. Ong decided not to contest the presidency during the party elections later that year, to allow a new leader to take over. The October 2008 party election marked a realignment of the party's factions, with the return of Chua Soi Lek to the fold. Ong Ka Ting's (non-publicly) anointed successor was vice president Ong Tee Keat
Ong Tee Keat
Dato' Sri Ong Tee Keat is a Malaysian politician and current Member of Parliament for Pandan. He was the Transport Minister in the Malaysian federal cabinet from March 18, 2008 to June 4, 2010. He was the 8th president of the Malaysian Chinese Association .-Personal life:The son of a fishmonger,...
. Meanwhile, Chua entered the race for deputy president, facing among others, Ong Ka Chuan
Ong Ka Chuan
Dato' Seri Ong Ka Chuan is a Malaysian politician and the Member of Parliament for Tanjung Malim, Perak. He is a former Minister of Housing and Local Government and former secretary-general of the Malaysian Chinese Association , a component party of the Barisan Nasional coalition.Ong is the older...
, the elder brother of Ka Ting. Ong Tee Keat won the presidency comfortably, while Chua edged out Ka Chuan. Following his victory, Tee Keat pledged reform and reaching out to more young voters in order to revive the party.
2008–present
After the 2008 leadership change, factional infighting continued, while the relationship between the top two leaders remained tense. Ong Tee Keat and Chua Soi Lek had engaged in a war of words before the election, and Chua was sidelined by Ong from taking an active role in the party's leadership, being confined to minor positions within the party and excluded from government posts. He was sacked by MCA in August 2009 for damaging the party's image with his sex scandal more than a year prior.Despite being shot down for the second time by the party, Chua refused to give in. His supporters forced an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) which passed a vote of no confidence against incumbent president Ong and annulled the expulsion of Chua. The EGM, however, failed to reinstate Chua as deputy president. Ong and Chua both refused to resign, and pledged to set aside their differences under the "greater unity plan." However, this was opposed by vice president Liow Tiong Lai
Liow Tiong Lai
Dato' Sri Liow Tiong Lai is a Malaysian politician who is currently serving as the Health Minister in the Malaysian cabinet. He is the deputy president of the Malaysian Chinese Association , a major component party of the Barisan Nasional ruling coalition.-Background:Born in Jasin, Malacca, Liow...
, previously aligned to Ong, who demanded Ong step down after losing the vote of confidence and that new elections be held. This set in motion a new leadership crisis, which lasted almost six months.
Finally in March 2010, Chua, along with his supporters in the central committee (CC) resigned. Along with the resignations of Liow's supporters in the CC, more than two-thirds of the CC had vacated their seats, paving the way for an election per the party constitution. The subsequent election saw Chua defeating incumbent Ong Tee Keat and former leader Ong Ka Ting in the race for president, while Liow defeated Kong Cho Ha
Kong Cho Ha
Dato' Seri Kong Cho Ha is a Malaysian politician and is currently the Minister for Transport in the Barisan Nasional coalition government of Najib Tun Razak and the Member of the Parliament of Malaysia for the Lumut constituency in Perak. He is a member of the Malaysian Chinese Association .Kong...
in the contest for deputy president.
Chua, as president, and his deputy Liow have pledged to cooperate, despite leading different factions, a pattern that has repeated itself in the MCA over the years.
Controversies
On January 1, 2008, the former party vice president Datuk Seri Dr. Chua Soi LekChua Soi Lek
Datuk Seri Dr. Chua Soi Lek ; born 2 January 1947, also known as Chua Kin Seng, is a Malaysian politician from the state of Johor. He is married to Datin Seri Wong Sek Hin. They have three children...
admitted that he was the person featured in a sex DVD that was circulated in Johor. He claimed no involvement in the filming or production of the DVD in question. [4] On January 2, 2008, he formally announced his resignation from all posts including Member of Parliament for Labis, Vice Presidency of the MCA, and as Health Minister at a press conference.[5]
In the same month, MCA leader Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun warned her Chinese voters for not letting fewer MCA representatives happen in Barisan Nasional in order to prevent another May 13, 1969 riot
May 13 Incident
The 13 May Incident is a term for the Sino-Malay sectarian violences in Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia, which began on 13 May 1969...
from happening. This has caused a major resentment in the Chinese community as their smaller existence in the Barisan Nasional coalition are told to cause a new riot to break out. http://chinhuatw.wordpress.com/2008/01/22/chew-mei-fun-another-may-13-if-chinese-representation-in-bn-is-insufficient/
Leadership
Incumbent leadership of MCA was elected by general assembly delegates at 28 March 2010.- President: Chua Soi LekChua Soi LekDatuk Seri Dr. Chua Soi Lek ; born 2 January 1947, also known as Chua Kin Seng, is a Malaysian politician from the state of Johor. He is married to Datin Seri Wong Sek Hin. They have three children...
- Deputy President: Liow Tiong LaiLiow Tiong LaiDato' Sri Liow Tiong Lai is a Malaysian politician who is currently serving as the Health Minister in the Malaysian cabinet. He is the deputy president of the Malaysian Chinese Association , a major component party of the Barisan Nasional ruling coalition.-Background:Born in Jasin, Malacca, Liow...
- Secretary-General: Kong Cho HaKong Cho HaDato' Seri Kong Cho Ha is a Malaysian politician and is currently the Minister for Transport in the Barisan Nasional coalition government of Najib Tun Razak and the Member of the Parliament of Malaysia for the Lumut constituency in Perak. He is a member of the Malaysian Chinese Association .Kong...
- 1st Vice President: Ng Yen YenNg Yen YenDato' Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen is a Malaysian politician and the current Minister of Tourism in the Malaysian Cabinet. She is the current Vice-President of Malaysian Chinese Association . She was the chief of the Women's wing of the Malaysian Chinese Association till 2008...
- 2nd Vice President: Donald Lim Siang Chai
- 3rd Vice President: Chor Chee HeungChor Chee HeungDato' Chor Chee Heung ; is a Malaysian politician and is currently the Member of the Parliament of Malaysia for the Alor Setar constituency in Kedah, Malaysia...
- 4th Vice President: Gan Ping Sieu
- Vice President(Youth Chief): Wee Ka SiongWee Ka SiongDatuk Ir. Dr. Wee Ka Siong is a Malaysian politician who has served as Member of Parliament of Ayer Hitam, Johor since 2004....
- Vice President(Wanita Chief): Yu Chok Tow
- Treasurer-General: Tan Chai HoTan Chai HoDatuk Tan Chai Ho was Deputy Minister of Ministry of Home Affairs from 29 March 2004 to 26 February 2008. He was a Member of Parliament of Bandar Tun Razak in Wilayah Persekutuan of Malaysia) representing the National Front Coalition for 3 terms until he lost to Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim...
- National Organising Secretary: Tee Siew Keong
On 10 October 2009, an Emergency General Meeting was held. A vote of no confidence against Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat
Ong Tee Keat
Dato' Sri Ong Tee Keat is a Malaysian politician and current Member of Parliament for Pandan. He was the Transport Minister in the Malaysian federal cabinet from March 18, 2008 to June 4, 2010. He was the 8th president of the Malaysian Chinese Association .-Personal life:The son of a fishmonger,...
got through by 14 votes while Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek failed to be reinstated as deputy president. The delegates, however, voted for Dr Chua to remain as a MCA member.
MCA members of the 12th Parliament of Malaysia
- JohorJohorJohor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
- P142 - Labis - Chua Tee YongChua Tee YongChua Tee Yong is a Malaysian politician and is currently the Member of the Parliament of Malaysia for the Labis constituency in the State of Johor. He is a member of the Malaysian Chinese Association party in the governing Barisan Nasional coalition....
- P148 - Ayer Itam - Wee Ka SiongWee Ka SiongDatuk Ir. Dr. Wee Ka Siong is a Malaysian politician who has served as Member of Parliament of Ayer Hitam, Johor since 2004....
- P152 - Kluang - Hou Kok ChungHou Kok ChungDr Hou Kok Chung is a Malaysian politician and one of the current Deputy Ministers for Higher Education along with Dato Saifuddin Abdullah in the Malaysian Cabinet. He is an alumnus of Malaya University and used to work as an academician in the same university before he ran for...
- P158 - Tebrau - Teng Boon SoonTeng Boon SoonDatuk Teng Boon Soon is a Malaysian politician and is currently the Member of the Parliament of Malaysia for the Tebrau constituency in the State of Johor. He is a member of the Malaysian Chinese Association party in the governing Barisan Nasional coalition.Teng was elected to federal Parliament...
- P162 - Gelang Patah - Tan Ah EngTan Ah EngTan Ah Eng is a Malaysian politician and is currently the Member of the Parliament of Malaysia for the Gelang Patah constituency in the State of Johor...
- P163 - Kulai - Ong Ka TingOng Ka TingTan Sri Ong Ka Ting is a Malaysian politician and a former Minister of Housing and Local Government in the Malaysian cabinet. He is also the former President of the Malaysian Chinese Association and is the Member of Parliament for Kulai.-Early life:...
- P165 - Tanjong Piai - Wee Jeck SengWee Jeck SengDatuk Wee Jeck Seng is a Malaysian politician and is the Member of the Parliament of Malaysia for the Tanjong Piai constituency in the State of Johor. He is a member of the Malaysian Chinese Association party in the Barisan Nasional coalition....
- P142 - Labis - Chua Tee Yong
- PerakPerakPerak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
- P70 - Kampar - Lee Chee LeongLee Chee LeongDato' Lee Chee Leong is a Malaysian politician and is currently the Member of the Parliament of Malaysia for the Kampar constituency in Perak, Malaysia...
- P74 - Lumut - Kong Cho HaKong Cho HaDato' Seri Kong Cho Ha is a Malaysian politician and is currently the Minister for Transport in the Barisan Nasional coalition government of Najib Tun Razak and the Member of the Parliament of Malaysia for the Lumut constituency in Perak. He is a member of the Malaysian Chinese Association .Kong...
- P77 - Tanjong Malim - Ong Ka ChuanOng Ka ChuanDato' Seri Ong Ka Chuan is a Malaysian politician and the Member of Parliament for Tanjung Malim, Perak. He is a former Minister of Housing and Local Government and former secretary-general of the Malaysian Chinese Association , a component party of the Barisan Nasional coalition.Ong is the older...
- P70 - Kampar - Lee Chee Leong
- SelangorSelangorSelangor also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity") is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west...
- P100 - Pandan - Ong Tee KeatOng Tee KeatDato' Sri Ong Tee Keat is a Malaysian politician and current Member of Parliament for Pandan. He was the Transport Minister in the Malaysian federal cabinet from March 18, 2008 to June 4, 2010. He was the 8th president of the Malaysian Chinese Association .-Personal life:The son of a fishmonger,...
- P100 - Pandan - Ong Tee Keat
- PahangPahangPahang is the third largest state in Malaysia, after Sarawak and Sabah, occupying the huge Pahang River river basin. It is bordered to the north by Kelantan, to the west by Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, to the south by Johor and to the east by Terengganu and the South China Sea.Its state...
- P80 - Raub - Ng Yen YenNg Yen YenDato' Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen is a Malaysian politician and the current Minister of Tourism in the Malaysian Cabinet. She is the current Vice-President of Malaysian Chinese Association . She was the chief of the Women's wing of the Malaysian Chinese Association till 2008...
- P89 - Bentong - Liow Tiong LaiLiow Tiong LaiDato' Sri Liow Tiong Lai is a Malaysian politician who is currently serving as the Health Minister in the Malaysian cabinet. He is the deputy president of the Malaysian Chinese Association , a major component party of the Barisan Nasional ruling coalition.-Background:Born in Jasin, Malacca, Liow...
- P80 - Raub - Ng Yen Yen
- KedahKedahKedah is a state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km², and it consists of the mainland and Langkawi. The mainland has a relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice...
- P09 - Alor Setar - Chor Chee HeungChor Chee HeungDato' Chor Chee Heung ; is a Malaysian politician and is currently the Member of the Parliament of Malaysia for the Alor Setar constituency in Kedah, Malaysia...
- P09 - Alor Setar - Chor Chee Heung
- MalaccaMalaccaMalacca , dubbed The Historic State or Negeri Bersejarah among locals) is the third smallest Malaysian state, after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and the state of Johor to the south...
- P135 - Alor Gajah - Fong Chan OnnFong Chan OnnTan Sri Dr. Fong Chan Onn is a Malaysian politician and a former Minister of Human Resources. He is a former vice-president of the Malaysian Chinese Association , a component party of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition. He is currently a Member of Parliament for Alor Gajah.-Profile:Dr...
- P135 - Alor Gajah - Fong Chan Onn
List of presidents
- Tun Tan Cheng LockTan Cheng LockTun Dato Sri Sir Cheng-lock Tan, DPMJ, KBE was a Malaysian Chinese businessman and a key public figure who devoted his life to fighting for the rights and the social welfare of the Chinese community in Malaya...
(27 February 1949 to March 1958) - Tun Dr. Lim Chong EuLim Chong EuTun Dato' Seri Dr. Lim Chong Eu was a Malaysian politician who served as the second Chief Minister of Penang for a record 21 years. He was also the founding president of Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia, a member of the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional. He was termed the "Architect of Modern...
(March 1958 to July 1959)
Dr. Cheah Toon Lok (acting) (July 1959 to November 1961) - Tun Tan Siew SinTan Siew SinTun Tan Siew Sin was Malaya's first Minister of Commerce and Industry, Finance Minister for 15 years, and president of the Malayan Chinese Association .-Early life:...
(November 1961 to April 1974) - Tan Sri Lee San Choon (April 1974 to March 1983)
Datuk Dr. Neo Yee Pan (acting) (March 1983 to November 1985) - Tan Koon SwanTan Koon SwanTan Koon Swan is a controversial Malaysian political and corporate figure, who was president of the Malaysian Chinese Association from November 1985 to September 1986.Tan first entered the political fray in the late 1970s...
(November 1985 to September 1986) - Tun Dr. Ling Liong SikLing Liong SikTun Dr. Ling Liong Sik is a retired Malaysian politician.He was president of the Malaysian Chinese Association, and the Malaysian Minister for Transport...
(September 1986 to May 2003) - Datuk Seri Ong Ka TingOng Ka TingTan Sri Ong Ka Ting is a Malaysian politician and a former Minister of Housing and Local Government in the Malaysian cabinet. He is also the former President of the Malaysian Chinese Association and is the Member of Parliament for Kulai.-Early life:...
(May 2003 to October 2008) - Datuk Ong Tee KeatOng Tee KeatDato' Sri Ong Tee Keat is a Malaysian politician and current Member of Parliament for Pandan. He was the Transport Minister in the Malaysian federal cabinet from March 18, 2008 to June 4, 2010. He was the 8th president of the Malaysian Chinese Association .-Personal life:The son of a fishmonger,...
(October 2008 till 27 March 2010) - Datuk Seri Chua Soi LekChua Soi LekDatuk Seri Dr. Chua Soi Lek ; born 2 January 1947, also known as Chua Kin Seng, is a Malaysian politician from the state of Johor. He is married to Datin Seri Wong Sek Hin. They have three children...
(28 March 2010 till Present)
Acting President
- Dr. Cheah Toon Lok (acting) (July 1959 to November 1961)
- Datuk Dr. Neo Yee Pan (acting) (March 1983 to November 1985)
External links
- Malaysian Chinese Association — official site, in Chinese
- http://www.mca.org.my/English/Pages/default.aspx - official party site, in English