Responding to MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong’s claim that MCA would never again “take the blame for Umno’s fault”, Umno information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa retorted that it was time Umno stopped carrying its long-paralysed Barisan Nasional (BN) ally and save it from further defeat.
In an interview with Sin Chew Daily on June 1, Wee said MCA would no longer bear responsibility for Umno’s actions, and that the party is now open to working with anyone.
The Ketereh MP said that MCA seemed to have forgotten that it had yet to recover since its poor performance in GE13.
“Has MCA forgotten that since GE13, they have been crippled? But we (Umno) still carried them. They were given a plump position within the government, in the hopes that they would regain their strength.
“But what happened instead? Not only did they fail to recover, they also appear to have been totally paralysed. They failed not only to connect with the people but also failed to win over their own party members.
“(In GE14) Up to the last minute, where the parties’ election machinery has been carefully prepared, MCA failed to identify its supporters and own machinery. They just want to be carried,” he said.
Annuar said Umno had never issued any statement on its BN allies’ failures out of respect and decorum.
“But it seems clear now that the MCA deputy president is the sort who will kick a man when he is down.
“Several days before the election (GE14), MCA issued a report which supposedly said that there has been an increase in support for BN among Chinese voters.
“Supposedly, 25 to 35 percent of Chinese voters had pledged their support for BN,” he said.
However, the reality was that only 2 percent of Chinese voted for BN, according to Annuar.
This, he said, proved to be the biggest factor behind the defeat in tens of seats dominated by Chinese voters, including the seat contested by MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
“It is clear that MCA has totally failed to stop the racial polarisation voting trend propagated by DAP. Accept this fact.
“As such, the statement that MCA has all this while been carrying Umno needs to be mulled over with an open heart.
“Unless, of course, MCA’s defeats since GE13 had left them not only paralysed but also minus the ability to think. If that is the case, perhaps it’s best if MCA makes preparations to buy its own tombstone,” he said in a Facebook posting.
Annuar also fired a parting shot at Wee.
“I’m sorry, my friend Datuk Wee Ka Siong. Never try to take us for granted.”
The May 9 general election almost wiped out MCA, leaving it with just one parliamentary seat, which is held by Wee.
Meanwhile, Deputy Umno Youth chief Senator Khairul Azwan Harun says MCA is free to decide whether its future lies with Umno or otherwise.
Commenting on Wee’s remarks that MCA’s future political cooperation would no longer see the party being “subservient” to its allies, Khairul said he agreed that BN as a whole was in need of restructuring.
“I agree with Wee that BN needs restructuring. This is a critical juncture for new opposition parties.
“But what is certain is that we should not be blaming each other. We are all responsible in this matter, it is a collective responsibility,” he said, referring to BN’s defeat in GE14.
Khairul reminded Wee of Umno’s efforts to help him win his Ayer Hitam seat in the recent election.
“If Wee is thinking of MCA’s future, then he should remember that Umno worked hard to help you win your seat. This coalition worked because of the understanding between BN’s component parties.
“But if you think that MCA’s future lies apart from Umno and want to call it quits, go ahead and make the best choice.
“We can accept it with an open heart,” he said.
Related report: June 2, BN Only Alive in Name, MCA Won’t Carry Water for Umno Anymore