theSun | TUESDAY OCTOBER 20 2009
speak up!
How MCA leaders
can end impasse
comment by K.K. Tan
THE current crisis in MCA is largely
caused by personality clashes, sensi-
tivities and egos. It is manifesting itself
in the ugly power struggle, confusion,
antagonism and disunity in the party.
The party is also becoming the laughing
stock of the Chinese community and
other Malaysians. The problem has even
shaken its Barisan Nasional partners,
especially Umno, which is worried that a
greatly weakened MCA will be a liability
to the coalition.
Many of the sensational reports and
articles on this crisis, especially over the
Internet, are getting out of control and
devoid of real substance. They focus on
personality politics, play up one leader
against another and make unsubstanti-
ated allegations against some leaders.
These writers are not doing justice to
the case and are making the matter
worse. Many MCA leaders are getting
very suspicious and paranoid when they
are already sensitive to criticisms.
Sensitivity to criticisms and being
unduly reserved in expressing a view are
common Asian cultural traits which po-
litical leaders must learn to overcome.
The temperature in MCA needs to be
cooled down quickly instead of allowing
the fire to be stoked further which would
burn the “house” down.
Sure, every political party has its
power struggles and divisions. But power
struggles and differences must be based
on principles, ideologies, ideas and the
positions on the various issues facing
the community and country.
The party leaders must learn to
agree to disagree on issues, ideas and
principles and they must learn to give
their political opponents due respect.
As politicians, they cannot afford to be
too sensitive to criticisms and adverse
Pakistan joins the American Raj
by Eric S. Margolis
WASHINGTON: Official Washington
watches in mounting alarm and confu-
sion as Pakistan spins out of control.
The US-led war in Afghanistan has now
poured over into Pakistan, bringing that
nation of 167 million close to civil war.
Bombings and shootings are rocking
Pakistan’s northwest regions, including a
brazen attack on army HQ in Rawalpindi
and repeated bombings of Lahore and
Peshawar. Pakistan’s army has launched
a major offensive against rebellious
Pashtun tribes in South Waziristan.
Meanwhile, the weak, deeply unpop-
ular government of Asif Zardari that was
engineered into power by the US faces
an increasingly rancorous confrontation
with its own military.
Like the proverbial bull in the china
shop, the Obama administration and
US Congress chose this explosive time
to try to impose yet another layer of
American control over Pakistan – just as
Nobel peace prize winner Barack Obama
appears likely to send thousands more
US troops to Afghanistan.
Tragically, US policy in the Muslim
world continues to be driven by
imperial arrogance, profound ignorance,
and special interest groups.
The current Kerry-Lugar-Berman bill
approved by Congress and signed by
Obama is ham-fisted dollar diplomacy
at its worst. Pakistan, bankrupted by
corruption and feudal landlords, is
being offered US$7.5 billion over five
years. Washington claims there are no
strings attached. Except, of course,
that the US wants to build a mammoth
to different viewpoints. Magnanimity is
a strength and not a weakness of a good
political leader.
Even if some leaders feel they have a
duty to expose other leaders whom they
believe to be corrupt or dishonest or
have a selfish agenda, they must make
their case objectively with facts and
let the members and delegates be the
judge. They should not insinuate against
or malign their opponents based solely
on hearsay. The leaders need to set an
example by not being personal in their
political struggle.
There is nothing wrong with seeking
political power but what’s the purpose or
basis of such power? What’s their game
plan for the party for the political power
that they are seeking or maintaining?
As current or aspiring leaders, they
must openly state their stand and tell
the members and the public what they
are offering to the party. It cannot be
“business as usual” or MCA may soon
become extinct.
How are they going to transform and
reform the party to win back the support
of the Chinese community? How are
they going to make MCA more relevant
to the current and future generations?
They should know that MCA can-
not continue being perceived to be a
parochial, race-based party. The party
must eventually open up to become
more inclusive (multi-racial) in line with
the broad aspirations of most Malaysians
to achieve greater national unity and
to collectively increase the economic
wealth for all.
So while they are busy trying to
win over the support of the Chinese
community, they should not forget the
non-Chinese as well as their vote and
support can also determine the destiny
of MCA.
What are the leaders’ political prin-
new embassy for 1,000 personnel in
Islamabad, the second largest after
its giant fortress-embassy in Baghdad.
New diplomatic personnel are needed,
claims Washington, to monitor the
US$7.5 billion in aid. So a small army of
US mercenaries is being brought in to
protect US “interests”. New US military
bases will open. Most of the billions in
new aid will go right into the pockets of
the pro-western ruling establishment,
about 1% of the population.
Washington has been also demanding
veto power over promotions in Pakistan’s
armed forces and intelligence agency,
ISI. This crude attempt to take control of
Pakistan’s proud, 617,000-man military
and intelligence service has enraged its
armed forces.
It’s all part of Washington’s “Afpak”
strategy to clamp tighter control over
restive Pakistan and make use its
armed forces and intelligence agents in
Afghanistan. The other key US objective
is seizing control of Pakistan’s nuclear
arsenal, the cornerstone of its national
defence against much more power-
ful India. Welcome, Pakistan, to the
American Raj.
However, 90% of Pakistanis oppose
the US-led war in Afghanistan, and see
Taliban and its allies as national resist-
ance to western occupation.
Alarmingly, violent attacks on Paki-
stan’s government are coming not only
from once autonomous Pashtun tribes
(wrongly called “Taliban”) in Northwest
Frontier Province, but, increasingly, in
the biggest province, Punjab.
Recently, the US Ambassador in
Islamabad, in a fit of imperial arrogance,
œ 11
ciples and ideas on how to transform
the party? What is their stand on the
various national issues? How can MCA
be strong, effective and fair and at the
same time, it is not perceived as being
“threatening” to the other race-based
parties in BN and the Opposition?
What do the leaders plan to do with
the reported accumulated financial
assets of over RM1.5 billion belonging to
MCA? The party was not set up to be an
investment company but a political party
with clear objectives. The past leaders
should be commended for investing the
assets wisely to get maximum financial
returns. But what is the plan of the
current leaders to use at least some
of these assets to get the best political
returns for the party?
In short, what is their “business plan”
to transform MCA into a respected, cred-
ible and effective organisation and how
can MCA deal effectively with the various
issues confronting the community and
country? How can MCA work effectively
with Umno and other parties to secure
the best returns for the community it
represents? This is where we can see
the “true colours” of the leaders.
Half the present internal crisis can
be solved if the leaders concerned
focus on their stand on issues, political
principles and plan for MCA. The leaders
and their supporters must avoid per-
sonal bickering, character assassination
and personality clashes, which do more
harm than good to the party.
The MCA leaders must end the confu-
sion, negative emotions and antagonism
which are clouding the issues for their
members and the public. Let their dif-
ferences and the debate be based on
principles, stand, ideas and plan. Let
there be political maturity in handling
such differences with greater mutual
respect and recognition.
The common objectives of the party
should form the basis of unity as the
“bottom line” and the leaders must be
reminded that whatever differences
they may have, they must still work and
stand together for the common good.
They must not let the party which their
forefathers have built up for over two
generations to be so easily destroyed.
KK Tan is the CEO of a strategic think tank
consultancy firm. He writes a monthly
column, Beyond Race, for theSun.
Comments: kktan22@hotmail.com.
actually called for air attacks on Pashtun
leaders in Quetta, capital of Pakistan’s
restive Baluchistan province.
Washington does not even bother to
ask the Islamabad government’s permis-
sion to launch air attacks inside Pakistan,
only informing it afterwards.
The Kerry-Lugar-Berman Big Bribe
comes as many irate Pakistanis accuse
President Asif Ali Zardari’s government
of being American hirelings. Zardari, wid-
ower of Benazir Bhutto, has been dogged
for decades by corruption charges.
Washington seems unaware of
the fury its crude, counter-productive
policies have whipped up in Pakistan.
The Obama administration listens to
Washington-based pro-Israel neo-con-
servatives, military hawks, and “experts”
who tell it what it wants to hear, not the
facts.
Pakistan’s military, the nation’s
premier institution, is being pushed to the
point of revolt. Against the backdrop of
bombings and shootings come rumours
the heads of Pakistan’s armed forces
and intelligence may be replaced.
Pakistanis are calling for the removal
of the Zardari regime’s strongman,
Interior Minister Rehman Malik. The
possibility of a military coup against
the Zardari regime grows. But Pakistan
is dependent on US money, and fears
India. Can its generals afford to break
with patron Washington?
Eric S. Margolis is a contributing editor
to the Toronto Sun chain of newspapers,
writing mainly about the Middle East
and South Asia. Comments: letters@
thesundaily.com.