COMMENT As the MCA general assembly (AGM) drew to a close at its national headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today, what was supposed to be a triumphant concerto, seemed to play discordant notes instead.

At least, to this observer of Malaysian politics, in place of an uplifting confident symphony, the sounds of violent thrashing and ear-splitting keening fills the air. As if a monster, mortally wounded, is about to die. And we all know, attested by countless Ultraman episodes and Godzilla movies, monsters in their death throes will thrash about violently, and let out a loud death knell, before dying.

The gyrations of the soon-to-expire creatures, oft translating into a whole lot of damage, as it tries to either claw its way out of its appointment with death via some lifeline, or avenge itself and injure the one that have dealt it the mortal blow. Observing what came out of the Chinese party's AGM, I wonder if the same thing that happened to dying monsters is happening to the BN component party. The gathering started on a sharp note, as banners adorning the venue, and T-shirts issued to delegates, portray statements that claw at the opposition Pakatan Rakyat.

Singling out Pakatan components, the MCA printed matter stuck daggers into PAS for its "hudud policy”, PKR for their economics that "will bankrupt the nation" and the DAP for "inciting hatred" as well as sleeping with the Islamic party which is its "ideological" nemesis.
'BN-blue theme an offering to Najib?'

Similar stinging statements were printed on BN-themed blue T-shirts handed out as part of a new look for the party delegates to wear, in place of their once white uniforms. The BN-blue T-shirts are an offering perhaps, to Prime Minister Mohd Najib Abdul Razak who came a-calling. A huge banner reading "MCA can deliver" was also installed in San Choon Hall where the AGM was held, facing the podium where Najib gave his opening speech.

The statement appeared next to a large 1Malaysia logo, while delegates also held up "I love PM" placards. This may have worked its magic for in his speech, Najib thanked the Chinese party for standing by Umno and promised that the Malay party will also stand by MCA, though he said that they can stand "with" and "by" him, but not "behind" him, in a poorly-hidden attempt at taking a swipe at the sodomy-accusations which plagued opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

But if one were to think that Najib's sodomy-inspired humour were crass, one certainly had not observed the goings on at the MCA AGM closely enough. Something more off colour and off kilter shot out of  MCA Wanita vice-chairperson Heng Seai Kie's (right, in photo) mouth as she accused PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat of urging Muslim men to rape non-Muslim women.

What more, her claims were defended by no less then MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek (above) himself. Chua, who once resigned all his party post after admitting to being the person in a sex video allegedly shot by an MCA snoop team before re-taking the presidency, also defended his claim that PAS-imposed hudud is backward and will spell doom for 1.2 million workers in the tourism, F&B, entertainment, hospitality and gambling sectors.  Chua also reasoned that the stabs against Pakatan is MCA's way of being on a war footing to face the coming polls.

Such paraphernalia and thrashing about setting the tone of Pakatan-bashing and BN-kissing that took centre stage all throughout the two-day event. No counter-arguments to opposition policy ideas One has to wonder if MCA is hitting out with no holds barred at Pakatan that had savaged them in the 2008 political tsunami, and looking to Umno for a rescue, perchance? While MCA deputy president Liow Tiong Lai (right) had claimed that the Chinese party is not resorting to attacking Pakatan out of a dearth of policy ideas, we have to wonder why the party came out bristling with long-knifed attacks, and not counter arguments to the policy ideas of the opposition.

It is as if, while Pakatan is trying to deal with policy issue in order to prepare for becoming the next federal government, MCA is sharpening its claws and daggers in order to prepare to become an opposition party. After all, like other BN component parties, they have already experienced it at the state level in the Pakatan-ruled states. Liow, however, insists that the party will make a comeback despite "doubts" about its future being raised by certain quarters.

His confidence was shared by MCA Youth chief Wee Ka Siong (left) who told party members that if they act like superheroes in the Marvel-comics inspired Hollywood blockbuster Avengers, the party will persevere. What the MCA will be in the coming years will be determined in the ballot boxes of the upcoming 13th general election, as the voters will determine whether the Chinese party will be a superhero, or a monster's corpse. If this year's AGM is any indication, one would feel that the vote will most likely be for the latter. Malaysiakini