PKR leaders say MCA’s walkout from the BN candidates announcement for the Melaka state election raises questions about UMNO’s sincerity in its coalition partnerships.
KUALA LUMPUR: The move by MCA to walk out of an event to unveil Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates for the 16th Melaka state election last night has raised questions regarding the sincerity of its coalition partner, UMNO, in their political cooperation.
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice president Datuk Chang Lih Kang said this situation also casts doubt on the foundation of BN’s political alliances with other parties, questioning whether they are built on principles and trust, or merely on political interests and power.
“If MCA, a long-standing BN component party feels disrespected, what does this mean for other parties that have entered into cooperation with BN?
“Is this cooperation based on principles and trust, or is it driven solely by political interests and power?” asked Chang, who also serves as the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, in a statement tonight.
Meanwhile, PKR Women’s Wing vice chief Loh Ker Chean remarked that the MCA should have long been aware of UMNO’s style of poor treatment toward its component parties.
Loh noted that the situation stands in contrast to Pakatan Harapan (PH), where Keadilan as a founding party of the coalition does not adopt a ‘big brother’ mentality or bully other parties, as is allegedly the case within BN.
“PMX (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) has always been consultative and inclusive, even when dealing with smaller parties such as UPKO (United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation) in the past.”
“Therefore, PH is stronger and more stable in governing the country,” she said.
Meanwhile, Keadilan Youth (AMK) information chief, Danish Hairudin, said MCA’s actions indicate the party is beginning to realize that it is not respected by UMNO, its own coalition partner.
He alleged that UMNO is so preoccupied with the prospect of short-term political gains through its cooperation with PAS that it has completely disregarded both MCA and MIC.
“This also raises the question of whether any coalition government involving UMNO and PAS would simply cast aside the voices and interests of minority groups.”
“The reality is that, collectively, MCA and MIC hold only three seats in the Dewan Rakyat and do not occupy any ministerial positions,” he said.
Earlier, MCA announced that it would not recognise any of its party members named as candidates by BN for the Melaka state election if such nominations were made without the approval of its top leadership.
MCA president Datuk Seri Dr. Wee Ka Siong reportedly said announcing candidates without consultation or the party’s consent is unacceptable especially given allegations that seats previously contested by MCA have been handed over to other parties.
Meanwhile, BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi speaking after officiating the Sultan Nazrin Shah Bridge Run 2026 in Bagan Datuk, Perak said MCA’s grievances regarding the announcement of BN candidates for the Melaka state election would be discussed and resolved collectively before October 31.
The issue arose after Wee and the MCA leadership walked out of the event last night prior to the BN chairman’s keynote address and the announcement of candidates and subsequently held a press conference outside the venue.