Malaysia: BN Must Work Harder To Regain Public Confidence

Posted: 2008/10/18

From: MNN
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KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 (Bernama) -- Outgoing MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting today called on the Barisan Nasional (BN) top leadership to work harder to regain the confidence of the nation and take concrete steps to bring meaningful and sincere changes before the BN itself gets replaced.Ong, delivering his last presidential address at the 55th MCA Annual General Assembly at the party headquarters here, voiced concern that the people's good perception of the BN had not been restored yet since the general election in March this year."All of us in the Barisan Nasional, irrespective of party, should be deeply concerned with the disquiet or unhappiness among the rakyat (people).

The rakyat's perception is not restored and transformation within the Barisan Nasional has not shown through results."Meanwhile, political crises have been spinning half-truths to confuse the rakyat and have raised many doubts among them," said Ong, who has opted not to defend his post.In the March 8 General Election, the MCA won only 15 parliamentary seats out of the 40 contested, marking the greatest defeat in the party's history.

Ong, a former Housing and Local Government Minister, expressed worry over the perception that Umno is the dominant party within the BN which excludes other component parties from BN's decision-making."Barisan Nasional's leadership needs to set right this situation through a process that truly involves the participation of all component parties."Every important decision must be decided together and not be viewed as though Umno alone determines policies, while other parties are then requested to later defend the policies based on the so-called spirit of Barisan Nasional."The power-sharing slogan is often spoken of but it is still seen as just paying lip service," he said to thundering applause from the delegates.

Ong also said that the use of the Internal Security Act (ISA) recently against those who have not posed a security threat had brought about a very negative impact on the government."MCA proposes that the government review the ISA in a comprehensive manner," he said.Ong also urged the government to review and re-evaluate what he perceived as various weaknesses or misappropriation in the implementation of economic policies which contravened the promises made to the multiracial community in Malaysia."Implementation of affirmative economic policies should be based on the principle that they do not sideline any party or persons. Economic policies should be carried out to enlarge the economic cake and to encourage more co-operation among the races."The execution of these policies should not limit any trader or investor who is trying to expand his/her own business investment by his/her own effort," he stated.

Ong also said that economic policies should be further liberalised and equity restrictions which limited business development should be abolished to enable companies in Malaysia to become more competitive in the global market, especially with the current economic crisis."The government should review the awarding of Approved Permits (APs), and other structures such as subsidies and price controls. In this context, open market competition should be encouraged," he stressed.At the end of his address, Ong thanked Prime Minister and BN Chairman Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as well as Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for their contributions to the nation and to MCA."Today marks a historic moment because this would be the last time our beloved prime minister would officiate MCA's general assembly and the last time I am attending as president."On behalf of MCA, I would like to say thank you to Datuk Seri Abdullah for all his support and everything he has done," said Ong as the entire audience gave Abdullah a standing ovation."I cannot say the words, I cannot find the words to express it. But I believe action speaks louder than words. The standing ovation said it all. This is how much the MCA leaders love you, Datuk Seri Abdullah," Ong said of the raw emotion displayed by the party members.