MCA, the second-largest component party in Barisan Nasional (BN), today outlined four key principles for the party’s continuous cooperation in the BN and to retain the concept of power-sharing.

At the 54th MCA general assembly opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at Wisma MCA here, MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said the four principles need to be practised if the present BN model is to remain for another 50 years.

He said the first principle is for all component parties to hold strongly to the virtues of sincerity, honesty, mutual respect and fairness in protecting the rights of all races at all times. This means that BN component parties need to reject racial and religious extremism.

Ong said that under the second principle, MCA wants all BN component parties to uphold the spirit of the social contract and the Federal Constitution to guarantee the rights of the various races in the country.

The third principle calls for the component parties to earnestly practise a healthy political philosophy and culture by promoting the culture of integrity so that the people will have more confidence in supporting the BN.
He said a healthy political culture with integrity has to be practised at all levels in the government and only then, the BN will remain strong for another 50 years.

And under the fourth principle, Ong said, the leadership of all component parties have to have the wisdom and vision, and be progressive, innovative and competitive, and able to work as a team to develop the country by overcoming the challenges of globalisation in the era of high technology.

He said that 50 years ago, the first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Alhaj laid the foundation for cooperation among parties to gain independence and today, MCA reaffirmed its full support to stand on a similar platform for cooperation to lead the country face the challenges in the next 50 years.

Ong said Abdullah’s moderation, fairness and leadership qualities have given MCA the trust to work with him in the interest of future generations.

MCA will also continue to fully support efforts by the prime minister in fighting corruption and enhancing integrity of the public sector and general public, he said.

He said that MCA itself is striving to promote the culture of integrity within the party, so that its leaders carry out their tasks honestly and efficiently and are clean and trustworthy and directly prevent the practise of unhealthy political cultures.

Ong also said that MCA views seriously the rise in crime cases which has become a hot topic of conversation among the people.

The MCA president said criminal cases like murder, rape, robbery and snatch-theft have constantly made headlines in the local media and this has made the people to be concerned and affected the country’s image in the eyes of investors and foreign tourists.

“Most of the criminals are drug addicts, unemployed, illegal immigrants, secret society members, those who are desperate because of debts and so on,” he said.

Ong said the government should address the problem by taking firmer action including imposing heavier penalties on offenders and tightening the controls on illegal immigrants and drug addicts.

He also stressed the need for Government-Linked Companies (GLCs) to play a role of giving a portion of contracts to non-Bumiputera companies which can generate various economic activities to benefit the Bumiputeras.

“Any effort by the government to restructure the society should be based on a principle of not affecting the existing equity rights or forcing any quarters to give up part of the equity which they obtain over a long period of hard work,” he said.

He said the authorities, when imposing guidelines on investments and businesses, should be sensitive and careful so as not to adversely affect the confidence of investors, both foreign and domestic.

“Circulars which can restrict business opportunities of any quarters are not appropriate because they are against the concept of the Barisan Nasional government which always safeguards the interests of all races,” he said.