MCA president Liow Tiong Lai today said the upcoming general election will see the Chinese community choosing whether or not they want to be represented in the cabinet.
"If the Chinese don't back BN Chinese parties, they will be giving up their representation in cabinet.
"In terms of protecting Chinese interests, this is akin going into reverse gear and putting the Chinese in a difficult spot," he said in a Facebook post today.
Liow's warning came one day after Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak declared that he could not reserve four or five spots on his cabinet for Chinese representatives should the community vote against BN.
"So they (Chinese voters) have to make a choice," said Najib.
After the 2013 elections, MCA, then under the helm of Dr Chua Soi Lek, made good their promise to not accept any government positions should the party fail to improve on their results at the polls.
Barely a year later, after Liow was made party president, MCA reversed the decision and made their way back to cabinet.
Meanwhile, Liow said MCA's weakened position since 2013 - it now has only 7 parliamentary seats, down from a record high of 31 parliamentary seats in 2004 - had led to ethnic and religious conflict.
"In the upcoming election, the Chinese will decide whether or not to be part of mainstream politics or be outside of government.
"For the Chinese, the ballot slip will weigh heavily on their hands," he said. - Mkini
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