The Statutory Declaration that MCA Signed in 2022 was to Support Perikatan National

MCA President Wee Ka Siong recently said in a media interview that he did not sign a statutory declaration to support PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang as Prime Minister. This is sophistry, his cunning deception.

The SD that Wee signed was to support Muhyiddin Yassin, who was then Chairman of Perikatan Nasional, in establishing a federal government with Bersatu and PAS.

In the 19 November 2022 general election, Pakatan Harapan won 82 parliamentary seats nationwide (71 in Peninsular Malaysia), Perikatan Nasional won 74 seats (71 in the Peninsula), while Barisan Nasional secured 30 seats (23 in the Peninsula). No coalition obtained a simple majority of 112 seats.

At that point of time, Wee Ka Siong’s SD was signed to support the formation of a Perikatan Nasional government with Muhyiddin as Prime Minister.

Wee’s reasons for signing the SD were:

1. He believed the situation at the time was chaotic.

2. He adhered to the idea of “no Anwar, no DAP”, and therefore, supported Perikatan Nasional in forming the government.

If the next general election, be it in 2026 or 2027, once again sees a three-cornered fight between Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional, and Perikatan Nasional, we may again see that no single coalition secures a simple majority.

We can also be fairly certain that if history repeats, Wee Ka Siong would probably once again support Perikatan Nasional to form the government.

Wee is among the strongest advocates within Barisan Nasional for a three-cornered contest in the next general election. This is because he believes a three-way contest would allow MCA to contest more seats, not just confined to their two incumbent seats.

Since this MCA President has chosen to bring up this issue, and given that he is one of the strongest proponents of a three-cornered fight, he has to make clear to the voters whether he will support the now PAS-dominated Perikatan Nasional in forming the government should the political situation of 2022 recurs.

At least by being honest, voters can know what MCA stands for.