Malaysian Chinese Association

File:Tan Cheng Lock.jpg, first president of MCA]]

{{Infobox Chinese

| order = ts

| pic = MCA Chinese.svg

| t = 馬來西亞華人公會

| s = 马来西亚华人公会

| p = Mǎláixīyà Huárén Gōnghuì

| j = maa5 loi4 sai1 aa3 waa4 jan4 gung1 wui2

| c =

| mi =

| ci =

| altname =

| poj = Má-lâi-se-a Hoâ-jîn kong-hoē

}}

The Malayan Chinese Association was formed on 27 February 1949 with the implicit support by the post-World War II British colonial administration. A central purpose of the MCA at the time of its founding was to manage the specific social and welfare concerns of the populations interned in the so-called New Villages created under the Briggs Plan in response to the Malayan Emergency.{{cite book|last=Nyce|first=Ray|title=Chinese New Villages in Malaysia|year=1973|publisher=Malaysian Sociological Research Institute|location=Singapore}}{{cite book |author=Ooi |first=Keat Gin |author-link=Keat Gin Ooi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=assDznc7EN4C |title=Historical Dictionary of Malaysia |date=11 May 2009 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-6305-7 |pages=lvii, 185 |access-date=16 February 2013}}

The declaration that announced the MCA as a formal political party in 1951 was written by a prominent Straits Chinese businessman, Tan Cheng Lock, its first president. In general, its early members were landowners, businessmen, or otherwise better off, while the working classes in the New Villages overwhelmingly joined the Socialist Front instead.{{cite book|last=Nyce|first=Ray|title=Chinese New Villages in Malaysia|year=1973|publisher=Malaysian Sociological Research Institute|location=Singapore|pages=115}} Many prominent members of the MCA were also Kuomintang members opposed to the Malayan Communist Party. Leong Yew Koh, was a KMT major general who became a cabinet minister and later became governor of Malacca; Malaysia's first minister of finance, Henry H.S. Lee, was a KMT colonel; and Lim Chong Eu, the leader of the Radical Party and joined the MCA in 1952, was a colonel (medical) doctor in the Kuomintang.Bayly, Harper, Forgotten wars: Freedom and Revolution in Southeast Asia

In 1952, MCA joined force with United Malays National Organisation on a local level to contest the Kuala Lumpur municipal elections which would lead to the formation of the Alliance Party. The alliance was joined by Malaysian Indian Congress in 1954 and they contested the first Malayan General Election in 1955 as one body, and the alliance won 51 of the 52 seat contested.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QKgraWbb7yoC&pg=PA138 |title=Southeast Asia: A Historical Encyclopedia, from Angkor Wat to East Timor, Volume 1 |editor= Keat Gin Ooi |page=138 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year= 2004 |isbn=9781576077702}} MCA won all 15 of the seats allocated.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GBotAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA96 |title=Personalized Politics: The Malaysian State Under Mahathir|author=In-Won Hwang |publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies |page=96 |year= 2003 |isbn=978-9812301857 }}

Tan Cheng Lock was succeeded by Lim Chong Eu after a successful challenge by Lim for the presidency in 1958. Lim attempted to amend the party's Constitution to consolidate the power of the Central Committee, and although amendment was passed narrowly, it also split the party.{{cite web |url=http://www.mca.org.my/en/about-us/about-mca/history-zone/former-presidents/tun-dr-lim-chong-eu/ |title=Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu |work=Malaysian Chinese Association |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018234517/http://www.mca.org.my/en/about-us/about-mca/history-zone/former-presidents/tun-dr-lim-chong-eu/ |archive-date=18 October 2015 |df=dmy-all }} Prior to the 1959 General Election, Lim pressed for an increase of the allocated number of seats from 28 to 40, but this was refused by UMNO leader Tunku Abdul Rahman. Lim was forced to back down and later resigned as president, with Cheah Toon Lock taking over as acting president. Other members also resigned from MCA to contest the election as independent candidates, which cost the party some seats.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WXkDtR3vCecC&pg=PA371 |title=Comparative Politics: The politics of Asia |author= Howard J. Wiarda |page=371 |publisher=Routledge |year=2005 |isbn=0-415-33095-5 }}{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NOtXcEmHdjoC&pg=PA91 |title=Malaysia: The Making of a Nation|author= Boon Kheng Cheah |pages=91–92 |publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies |year=2002 |isbn=978-9812301543 }} The party only won 19 of the 31 seats eventually allocated.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c9EEhjQ3tQAC&pg=PA101 |title=Chinese Schools in Peninsular Malaysia: The Struggle for Survival |author= Ting Hui Lee |pages=101–102|publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies |year= 2011 |isbn=9789814279215 }} Lim himself left the party in December 1960, later becoming one of the founding members of the opposition Gerakan in 1968. In 1961 Tan Siew Sin, son of Tan Cheng Lock and favoured by Tunku, became MCA's third President.{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=nSqXGSinwP4C&pg=PA220 |title=Singapore: The Unexpected Nation |author= Edwin Lee |publisher= Institute of Southeast Asian Studies |date= 2008 |pages=219–220 |isbn=978-9812307965 }} Tan led the party to a firm victory in the 1964 General Election, winning 27 of the 33 parliamentary seats contested.{{cite web |url=http://www.mca.org.my/en/about-us/about-mca/history-zone/former-presidents/tun-tan-siew-sin/ |title=Tun Tan Siew Sin |work=Malaysian Chinese Association |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323201434/http://www.mca.org.my/en/about-us/about-mca/history-zone/former-presidents/tun-tan-siew-sin/ |archive-date=23 March 2014 |df=dmy-all }} In 1969, Tan established Tunku Abdul Rahman College after a proposal for a Chinese-language university was turned down by the government.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v9QEBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA403 |title=Southeast Asian Personalities of Chinese Descent: A Biographical Dictionary|editor= Leo Suryadinata|page=403 |publisher=ISEAS Publishing |date=30 December 2012 |isbn= 978-9814345217 }}

The third Malaysian general elections were held on 10 May 1969. MCA faced strong challenges from the new, mainly Chinese, opposition parties Democratic Action Party and Gerakan. Of the 33 parliamentary seats contested, MCA managed to retain only 13. MCA also lost control of the Penang State Government to Gerakan. The gain by the opposition parties led to tension between different communities which erupted into the May 13 Riots. Prior to the riots, on 12 May 1969, Tan Siew Sin announced that the party would withdraw from the Alliance, but reconsidered on 20 May and joined the National Operations Council formed in place of the suspended Parliament after the riots.{{cite web|url=http://www.mca.org.my/t/about-us/about-mca/history-zone/party-history/3/ |title=Party History |work=Malaysian Chinese Association |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406201339/http://www.mca.org.my/t/about-us/about-mca/history-zone/party-history/3/ |archive-date=6 April 2015 }} The loss of support for MCA among the Chinese population elicited a comment by the then Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ismail that if MCA continue to lose support, UMNO may stop co-operating with it.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c9EEhjQ3tQAC&pg=PA124 |title=Chinese Schools in Peninsular Malaysia: The Struggle for Survival |author=Ting Hui Lee |page=124 |publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies |year= 2011 |isbn=9789814279215 }} To regain Chinese support, Tan attempted to broaden the appeal of the party previously seen as a party of the taukeh (tou jia, rich men), and invited professionals to join the party. However, many of these were later expelled after a dispute involving Lim Keng Yaik who then joined Gerakan.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v9QEBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA634 |title=Southeast Asian Personalities of Chinese Descent: A Biographical Dictionary |editor= Leo Suryadinata |author=Cheah Kooi Guan |page=634 |publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies |year= 2012 |isbn=978-9814345217 }}

With the loss of support for MCA in the 1969 election, and the enlargement of the Alliance party in 1972 (which later became Barisan Nasional) to include Gerakan, UMNO became even more dominant and MCA suffered a loss of status within the coalition.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Owo39zRMQbwC&pg=PA163 |title= Malaysia: The Making of a Nation|author= Cheah Boon Kheng |publisher= Institute of Southeast Asian Studies |year= 2002 |pages=162–163 |isbn=978-9812301543 }} In 1973, Tan Siew Sin requested a position as Deputy Prime Minister in the cabinet reshuffle following the death of Tun Dr. Ismail, but this was refused by Tun Abdul Razak, which angered Tan.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Owo39zRMQbwC&pg=PA147 |title= Malaysia: The Making of a Nation|author= Cheah Boon Kheng |publisher= Institute of Southeast Asian Studies |year= 2002 |pages=147–148 |isbn=978-9812301543 }} On 8 April 1974, prior to the general election, Tan Siew Sin resigned all of his party and government posts for health reasons.

File:Lee_San_Choon_2006.jpg, MCA president 1975–1983]]

Lee San Choon took over as Acting President following Tan's resignation, and was then elected president in 1975. After Tan's resignation, the cabinet posts allocated to MCA declined in importance, and MCA lost both the Finance Ministry and Trade and Industry Ministry posts it once held in 1957.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4sKEAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA91 |title=Malaysian Politics Under Mahathir |author= Diane K. Mauzy, R. S. Milne |publisher=Routledge |page=91 |year= 1999 |isbn=978-0415171434 }} The party performed better in the 1974 election, but lost ground again in the following 1978 general election, with the MCA winning only 17 of the 28 parliamentary seats and 44 of the 60 state seats. In 1979, Michael Chen stood against Lee San Choon for the MCA Presidency but lost, and later in 1981 led a group of MCA dissidents to join Gerakan.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EV88Tf0yWqoC&pg=PA9 |title=Malaysia's 1982 General Election |author=Harold A. Crouch |pages=9–12|publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies |year= 1982|isbn=978-9971902452 }}

The 1982 general election however saw a shift in fortune for MCA. Lee accepted a challenge from the opposition Democratic Action Party which taunted the MCA's leadership for not daring to contest a seat with large urban Chinese majority, and contested the parliamentary seat for Seremban against the incumbent DAP Chairman Chen Man Hin. Lee won his challenge, and led his party to a resounding victory, winning 24 out of 28 allocated parliamentary seats and 55 out of 62 state seats.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EV88Tf0yWqoC&pg=PA48 |title=Malaysia's 1982 General Election|author= Harold A. Crouch |page=48 |publisher= Institute of Southeast Asian Studies |year=1982 |isbn=978-9971902452}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mca.org.my/en/about-us/about-mca/history-zone/former-presidents/tan-sri-lee-san-choon/ |title=Tan Sri Lee San Choon |work=Malaysian Chinese Association |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323194418/http://www.mca.org.my/en/about-us/about-mca/history-zone/former-presidents/tan-sri-lee-san-choon/ |archive-date=23 March 2014 }} After the success in the election and at the height of his career, Lee San Choon unexpectedly resigned his presidency and cabinet post for unspecified reason in 1983.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=19830324&id=hgNOAAAAIBAJ&pg=6032,4427080 |title=San Choon Resigns |work=New Straits Times |date=24 March 1983 }} Neo Yee Pan then led as Acting President until 1985.

In 1985, Tan Koon Swan, who was sacked from the party a year earlier, won the presidential election with the largest majority in the party's history.{{cite news |title = Mr Tan Koon Swan was yesterday elected president of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) by a landslide. |date = 25 November 1985 |publisher = Asian Wall Street Journal |page = 16}}{{cite news |title = MCA: New Beginning. |date = 1 December 1985 |publisher = Malaysian Business |page = 5}} However, in the following year, he was charged with abetting criminal breach of trust relating to his private business dealings in Singapore, and resigned from the presidency.{{citation|title=Tan Koon Swan |url=http://www.mca.org.my/English/PastPresidents/Pages/TanKoonSwan.aspx |publisher=Malaysian Chinese Association |access-date=6 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090712044805/http://www.mca.org.my/English/PastPresidents/Pages/TanKoonSwan.aspx |archive-date=12 July 2009 }} Koon Swan also originated the Deposit-Taking Cooperatives, which sought to accumulate capital for Chinese Malaysians through investments. The mismanagement of the DTCs' funds led to a scandal, with the central bank, Bank Negara Malaysia, stepping in to freeze the assets of up to 35 DTCs. The total loss was estimated to be RM3.6 billion, and depositors could only recover 62% of their deposits.{{citation |title=MCA's irrelevant civil war |url=http://www.thenutgraph.com/mcas-irrelevant-civil-war/ |last1=Wong |first1=Chin Huat |date=7 October 2009 |publisher=The Nut Graph}}

Koon Swan was succeeded by his deputy Ling Liong Sik in 1986. He assumed the presidency when the party was still rife with factionalism and faced disillusionment with the Chinese community over the Deposit-Taking Cooperatives scandal.{{citation|title=Datuk Seri Dr Ling Liong Sik and Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting |url=http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2003/12/31/features/6972955&sec=features |date=31 December 2003 |work=The Star |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604020014/http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=%2F2003%2F12%2F31%2Ffeatures%2F6972955&sec=features |archive-date=4 June 2011 }} Ling spent his early years as president working to resolve MCA's financial problems, raising funds while restructuring the party's assets.{{citation|title=Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik |url=http://www.mca.org.my/English/PastPresidents/Pages/DatukSeriDrLingLiongSik.aspx |publisher=Malaysian Chinese Association |access-date=6 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070621112336/http://www.mca.org.my/English/PastPresidents/Pages/DatukSeriDrLingLiongSik.aspx |archive-date=21 June 2007 }} Ling presided over a period of relative peace within the party, and worked to maintain the interests of the Chinese community through a closed-door approach within the government.{{cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721120401/http://english.cpiasia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1766%3Atussle-between-mca-top-two-redux-&Itemid=169 |archive-date=21 July 2011 |title=Tussle between MCA top two – Redux |url=http://english.cpiasia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1766:tussle-between-mca-top-two-redux-&Itemid=169 |last1=Chin |first1=James |date=29 October 2009 |publisher=Centre for Policy Initiatives |access-date=5 July 2010 |url-status=dead }} He expanded the MCA-owned Tunku Abdul Rahman College through fund-raising and government contributions, and in 2001 set up Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman. Ling led MCA to its best electoral performance thus far in the 1995 general election, winning 30 of the 34 allocated parliamentary seats and 71 of the 77 state seats, and secured a majority of Chinese votes at the expense of DAP.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7UCl7VE4VMIC&pg=PA175 |title=Dictionary of the Modern Politics of Southeast Asia |author= Michael Leifer |pages=174–175 |publisher=Routledge |edition= 3rd |year= 2000 |isbn=9781135129453 }}{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GBotAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA261 |title=Personalized Politics: The Malaysian State Under Mahathir|author=In-Won Hwang |publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies |pages=260–262 |year= 2003 |isbn=978-9812301857 }} MCA also performed well in the 1999 general elections, and the successive electoral victory boosted the party's standing within the Barisan Nasional coalition as well as Ling's personal relationship with BN leader and prime minister Mahathir Mohamad.

However, internal power struggles persisted. In 1993 Ling's deputy Lee Kim Sai indicated that he would challenge Ling for the presidency, but withdrew at the eleventh hour.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v9QEBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA517 |title=Southeast Asian Personalities of Chinese Descent: A Biographical Dictionary |editor= Leo Suryadinata |pages=515–517 |publisher=ISEAS |year=2012 |isbn=9789814345217 }} Lee eventually retired in 1996 and was replaced as deputy president by Lim Ah Lek.{{cite news |title=Can Ong Ka Ting or any other ex this or that save MCA? |url=http://www.aliran.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1228:can-ong-ka-ting-or-any-other-former-this-or-that-save-the-mca&catid=96:2010&Itemid=47 |publisher=Aliran |date=16 March 2010 |access-date=8 July 2010}} In 1999, the party was again wracked by factionalism. Deputy president Lim Ah Lek announced his intention to retire as a minister and agreed with Ling to nominate his protégé Chan Kong Choy to the Cabinet after the 1999 elections. However, Ling nominated his own protégé Ong Ka Ting as a minister at the expense of Chan, causing discontent with members aligned to Lim, which became known as "Team B" among party members. The Ling faction was known as "Team A". Tensions flared further after MCA, through its holding company Huaren, moved to acquire the independent daily Nanyang Siang Pau. This was vehemently opposed by Team B, fearing a complete control of the Chinese media by Team A. They were joined by Chinese journalists and non-governmental organisations, who made their opposition public through demonstrations. The situation turned farcical when chairs were thrown during the 2001 Youth general assembly over the issue.{{cite news |title=MCA Youth launches inquiry into AGM violence |url=http://www0.malaysiakini.com/news/4245 |publisher=Malaysiakini |date=9 August 2001 |last1=Ng |first1=Boon Hooi }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Huaren eventually succeeded in taking over Nanyang Siang Pau. Huaren also controls The Star and China Press,{{cite book |author=George |first=Cherian |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9S3EeFlJImYC&pg=PA48 |title=Contentious Journalism and the Internet: Towards Democratic Discourse in Malaysia and Singapore |publisher=University of Washington Press |year=2006 |isbn=978-0295985787 |page=48 |author-link=Cherian George}} and the domination of media press resulted in strong resentments in the divided party and concerns over press freedom.{{cite web |url=http://aliran.com/archives/monthly/2001/8d.html |title=It Matters Who Owns the Media |author=Wong Kok Keong |work=Aliran }}{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/05/31/malaysiaia.press/ |title=Malaysian press deal a 'freedom threat' |date=31 May 2001 |work=CNN }}{{cite news |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2001/06/15/commentary/world-commentary/backers-of-chinese-press-in-malaysia-mobilize-to-defend-its-freedom/ |title=Backers of Chinese press in Malaysia mobilize to defend its freedom |author= David Chew |work=The Japan Times |date=15 June 2001 }}

Mahathir, as BN leader, eventually stepped in to resolve the conflict, suggesting a "peace plan" among the factions. The scheduled 2002 party elections were cancelled, while Ling and Lim stepped down to be replaced by their respective protégés.

In May 2003, the leadership transition occurred as planned. Ong Ka Ting, who was then a vice-president succeeded Ling Liong Sik as president, while Chan Kong Choy succeeded Lim Ah Lek as deputy president. The Ong-led MCA contributed to Barisan Nasional's overwhelming victory in the 2004 general elections. MCA won 31 of the 40 parliamentary seats and 76 of the 90 state seats allocated.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EHtO7JdRLO0C&pg=PA92 |title=Malaysia: Recent Trends and Challenges |editor= Saw Swee-Hock, K Kesavapany |publisher= Institute of Southeast Asian Studies |year= 2005 |page=92 |isbn= 978-9812303394 }} During the 2005 party elections, Teams A and B ran on a united front, easily quashing the challenge by vice-president Chua Jui Meng (for president) and secretary-general Ting Chew Peh (for deputy president).

The Ong-Chan leadership continued the soft approach to protecting the Chinese community's interests, although tension with UMNO over racial issues flared up now and again after the 2004 election.{{citation |title= The racial divide widens in Malaysia |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/HK23Ae01.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070129091445/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/HK23Ae01.html |url-status=unfit |archive-date=29 January 2007 |publisher=Asia Times |date=23 November 2006 |last1=Gatsiounis |first1=Ioannis}} In early 2008, vice-president and Health Minister Chua Soi Lek, a prominent Johor member, was involved in a sex scandal. DVDs of Chua having sex with a woman were circulated in Johor, prompting Chua to resign all his political positions, including as Member of Parliament.{{cite news |title=Chua resigns after sex scandal |url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/1/2/nation/20080102155121&sec=nation&focus=1 |date=2 January 2008 |work=The Star |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505073039/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2008%2F1%2F2%2Fnation%2F20080102155121&sec=nation&focus=1 |archive-date=5 May 2008 |df=dmy-all }} Chua suggested that his political enemies within the party who might have felt threatened by him for plotting his downfall.{{cite news |title=Chua blames downfall on hard work |url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/1/4/nation/19913859&sec=nation&focus=1 |last1=Edwards |first1=Audrey |work=The Star (Malaysia) |date=4 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624141127/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2008%2F1%2F4%2Fnation%2F19913859&sec=nation&focus=1 |archive-date=24 June 2008 |df=dmy-all }}

File:OngTeeKeat.jpg, president 2008–2010]]

In the March 2008 general elections, MCA fared badly, winning only 15 parliamentary seats and 32 state seats, less than half the number of seats they won in the previous election. Ong decided not to contest the presidency during the party elections later that year, to allow a new leader to take over. The October 2008 party election marked a realignment of the party's factions, with the return of Chua Soi Lek to the fold. Ong Ka Ting's anointed successor was vice-president Ong Tee Keat.{{cite news |title=MCA reform: Real or imaginary? |url=http://www.thenutgraph.com/mca-reform-real-or-imaginary/ |publisher=The Nut Graph |date=3 October 2008 |last1=Ng |first1=Boon Hooi}} Meanwhile, Chua entered the race for deputy president, facing among others, Ong Ka Chuan, the elder brother of Ka Ting. Ong Tee Keat won the presidency comfortably, while Chua edged out Ka Chuan. Following his victory, Tee Keat pledged reform and reaching out to more young voters to revive the party.{{cite news |title=Tee Keat wins, Soi Lek is MCA No. 2 |url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/10/18/nation/20081018214845&sec=nation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081019174920/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2008%2F10%2F18%2Fnation%2F20081018214845&sec=nation |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 October 2008 |work=The Star (Malaysia) |date=18 October 2008 |access-date=5 July 2010 |df=dmy-all }}

After the 2008 leadership change, factional infighting continued and the relationship between the Ong Tee Keat and Chua Soi Lek remained tense. Chua was sidelined by Ong from taking an active role in the party's leadership, and he was also excluded from government posts.{{citation |title=Pakatan Rakyat courts Chua Soi Lek |url=http://www.thenutgraph.com/pr-courts-chua-soi-lek |date=30 April 2009 |publisher=The Nut Graph |last1=Loh |first1=Deborah}} He was then sacked by MCA in August 2009 for damaging the party's image with his sex scandal more than a year prior.{{cite news |title=Soi Lek expelled |url=http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/111492 |publisher=Malaysiakini |date=26 August 2009}} In response, Chua's supporters forced an extraordinary general meeting which passed a vote of no confidence against incumbent president Ong and annulled the expulsion of Chua. The EGM, however, failed to reinstate Chua as deputy president.{{cite news |title=MCA EGM: Delegates make dramatic decisions |url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/10/10/nation/20091010083515&sec=nation |work=The Star (Malaysia) |date=10 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011051038/http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2009%2F10%2F10%2Fnation%2F20091010083515&sec=nation |archive-date=11 October 2009 |df=dmy-all }} Ong refused to resign despite the vote of no confidence, but pledged with Chua to set aside their differences under the "greater unity plan."{{cite news |title=Greater unity plan revealed |url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/10/23/nation/4959154&sec=nation |work=The Star (Malaysia) |date=23 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100111065100/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2009%2F10%2F23%2Fnation%2F4959154&sec=nation |archive-date=11 January 2010 |df=dmy-all }} However, this was opposed by vice-president Liow Tiong Lai who demanded Ong step down and that new elections be held.{{cite news |title=New EGM mired in legal wrangling while Ong pushes unity plan |url=http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/42346-new-egm-mired-in-legal-wrangling-while-ong-pushes-unity-plan- |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20091107094523/http://www2.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/42346-new-egm-mired-in-legal-wrangling-while-ong-pushes-unity-plan- |archive-date=7 November 2009 |publisher=The Malaysian Insider |date=4 November 2009 |access-date=7 May 2010}} This set in motion a new leadership crisis, which lasted almost six months.

Finally in March 2010, Chua, along with his supporters in the central committee resigned. Along with the resignations of Liow's supporters in the CC, more than two-thirds of the CC had vacated their seats, paving the way for an election per the party constitution.{{cite news |title=Soi Lek quits, fresh MCA polls imminent |url=http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/55225-soi-lek-quits-fresh-mca-polls-imminent |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306024042/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/55225-soi-lek-quits-fresh-mca-polls-imminent |archive-date=6 March 2010 |publisher=The Malaysian Insider |date=4 March 2010 |access-date=7 May 2010}} The subsequent election saw Chua defeating incumbent Ong Tee Keat and former leader Ong Ka Ting in the race for president, while Liow defeated Kong Cho Ha in the contest for deputy president.{{cite news|url=http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/57823-soi-lek-wins-liow-is-mca-no-2- |title=Soi Lek wins, Liow is MCA No. 2 |publisher=The Malaysian Insider |date=28 March 2010 |access-date=7 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100331133609/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/57823-soi-lek-wins-liow-is-mca-no-2- |archive-date=31 March 2010 }} Chua and his deputy Liow pledged to co-operate, and opened the party to non-Chinese.{{cite news |title=Liow will cooperate with Dr Chua |url=http://www.mmail.com.my/content/31613-liow-will-cooperate-dr-chua |date=28 March 2010 |publisher=The Malay Mail |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622013740/http://www.mmail.com.my/content/31613-liow-will-cooperate-dr-chua |archive-date=22 June 2011 |df=dmy-all }}

File:Liow Tiong Lai in London - 2017 (24850080538) (cropped).jpg, president 2013–2018]]

MCA's electoral performance meanwhile continued to deteriorate, as in the 2013 General Election, MCA only managed to score only 7 of the 37 parliamentary seats and 11 of the 90 state seats it contested, leading to calls for Chua's resignation.{{cite news |url=http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/mca-elders-call-for-soi-leks-head-to-roll |title=MCA elders call for Soi Lek's head to roll |author=Boo Su-Lyn |date=10 May 2013 |work=The Malaysian Insider |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903055734/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/mca-elders-call-for-soi-leks-head-to-roll |archive-date=3 September 2014 |df=dmy-all }} The so-called "Chinese tsunami" where the great majority of Chinese votes went to the opposition was blamed by Najib Razak for the losses of the governing coalition.{{cite journal |title=So Close and Yet So Far: Strategies in the 13th Malaysian Elections|journal=The Round Table |volume=102|issue=6|pages=533–540 |date=December 2013|doi= 10.1080/00358533.2013.857145 |author=James Chin|s2cid=153377005 }}{{cite web|url =https://www.ft.com/content/460f0c42-b711-11e2-841e-00144feabdc0 |title=Global Insight: Malaysia's 'Chinese tsunami' puts Najib in a bind |work=Financial Times|date=7 May 2013 }} MCA's poor performance in the two elections, along with continued factionalism, raised concerns over the party's relevance in the Malaysian political arena.{{cite news |title=MCA's irrelevant civil war |url=http://www.thenutgraph.com/mcas-irrelevant-civil-war/ |date=7 October 2009 |last=Wong |first=Chin Huat |access-date=23 April 2011 |publisher=The Nut Graph}}{{cite news |title=MCA polls: Fight to restore party's relevance |url=https://my.news.yahoo.com/mca-polls-fight-restore-partys-151658904.html |author=Azman Ghani |date=20 December 2013 |publisher=Yahoo! News Malaysia |access-date=30 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106204410/https://my.news.yahoo.com/mca-polls-fight-restore-partys-151658904.html |archive-date=6 November 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} Also as a result of its poor performance, there was no MCA representation in the cabinet for the first time since independence due to a resolution that MCA would not accept cabinet posts if it performed badly in the general election.{{cite news |url=http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/05/17/editorial-malaysia-s-chinese-tsunami.html |title=Editorial: Malaysia's 'Chinese tsunami' |work=The Jakarta Post |date= 17 May 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://www2.nst.com.my/latest/mca-to-mull-on-invitation-by-pm-to-join-cabinet-1.586211 |title=MCA to mull on invitation by PM to join Cabinet |publisher=New Straits Times |date=3 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503190909/http://www2.nst.com.my/latest/mca-to-mull-on-invitation-by-pm-to-join-cabinet-1.586211 |archive-date=3 May 2014 }}

Chua did not enter the following party poll for president, and in December 2013, Liow Tiong Lai was elected the president of MCA.{{cite news |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/se-asia/story/malaysias-former-health-minister-liow-tiong-lai-new-mca-president-201312 |title=Malaysia's former health minister Liow Tiong Lai is new MCA president |author=Lester Kong |work=The Straits Times|date=21 December 2013 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/12/13/how-will-chua-soi-lek-be-remembered/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215050625/http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/12/13/how-will-chua-soi-lek-be-remembered/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 December 2013 |title=How will Chua Soi Lek be remembered? |author=Leven Woon |date=13 December 2013 |work=Free Malaysia Today }} Liow also reversed the resolution not to serve in the government and re-entered the cabinet.

In the 2018 election, MCA suffered its worst ever defeat, as it has lost all state seats it has contested, and only managed to retain one elected representative in the national parliament - Wee Ka Siong, who represents Ayer Hitam constituency in Johor. MCA, as part of the Barisan Nasional coalition, was also relegated to the opposition for the first time since independence. Wee Ka Siong was elected president on 4 November 2018 while Liow decided not to stand for party polls after his defeat.{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/11/04/datuk-seri-dr-wee-ka-siong-is-the-new-mca-president/ |title= Dr Wee Ka Siong is the new MCA president (Updated)|work=The Star |date=4 November 2018}}{{cite news |url=http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2018/05/11/report-liow-not-standing-in-mca-polls-this-year/ |title=Report: Liow not standing in MCA polls this year |work=Free Malaysia Today |date=11 May 2018 }} MCA later regained a seat in the 2019 Tanjung Piai by-election.{{cite news |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/barisan-nasional-wee-jeck-seng-wins-tanjung-piai-byelection-12100108 |title= Barisan Nasional's Wee Jeck Seng clinches landslide victory in Tanjung Piai by-election | author=Amir Yusof|date=16 November 2019 |work=Channel News Asia}}

In March 2020, MCA returned to power as part of Barisan Nasional aligned to the Perikatan Nasional coalition after the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government.{{cite news |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2020/03/571665/perikatan-nasional-coalition-set-joint-secretariat |title=Perikatan Nasional coalition to set up joint secretariat |work=New Straits Times |author=Adib Povera|date=4 March 202 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/03/573221/mca-committed-ensuring-progress-all-malaysians |title=MCA committed in ensuring progress of all Malaysians |first= Dawn |last=Chan |date=9 March 2020 |work=New Straits Times }}

In the 2022 election, the Pakatan Harapan won the most seats but not the majority, and returned to government with the support of Barisan Nasional. MCA won two seats, however, it was not given any government cabinet posts and it stayed as a backbencher of the government.{{cite news |url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2023/01/08/mca-not-opportunistic-wont-do-anything-just-to-gain-power-says-ti/ |title=MCA not opportunistic, won't do anything just to gain power, says Ti|work=FMT |date=8 January 2023 }}

{{main|1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal}}

On 8 July 2020, a sum of RM835,258.19 seized by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) from Pahang MCA for allegedly linked to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fund scandal, has been forfeited to the Malaysian government.{{Cite web |last=Wednesday |first=08 Jul 2020 06:56 PM MYT |title=Court: RM835,258.19 linked to 1MDB seized from Pahang MCA forfeited to govt |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/07/08/court-rm835258.19-linked-to-1mdb-seized-from-pahang-mca-forfeited-to-govt/1882704 |access-date= |website=www.malaymail.com |date=8 July 2020 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2020-07-08 |title=Govt forfeits RM835,258.19 from Pahang MCA |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/07/08/govt-forfeits-rm83525819-from-pahang-mca |access-date= |website=The Star |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Khairulrijal |first=Rahmat |date=2020-07-08 |title=Govt to forfeit more than RM835,000 seized from Pahang MCA Liaison committee [NSTTV] |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2020/07/606925/govt-forfeit-more-rm835000-seized-pahang-mca-liaison-committee |access-date= |website=NST Online |language=en}}

Incumbent leadership of MCA was elected by general assembly delegates in the 2023 Malaysian Chinese Association leadership election.{{cite web |url=http://www.mca.org.my/2/Content/SinglePage?_param1=15-112018-167164-11-201815&_param2=TS |title=A fresh look for MCA|date= 5 November 2018 |work=Malaysian Chinese Association}}

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• President: Wee Ka Siong
• Deputy President: Mah Hang Soon
• Secretary-General: Chong Sin Woon
• 1st Vice-president: Wee Jeck Seng
• 2nd Vice-president: Lim Ban Hong
• 3rd Vice-president: Ir. Lawrence Low
• 4th Vice-president: Tan Teik Cheng

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• Youth Chief: Ling Tian Soon
• Women Chief: Wong You Fong
• Treasurer-General: Tan Tuan Peng
• National Organising Secretary: Leaw Kok Chan

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Central Committee Members:

{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|

1. Koh Nai Kwong
2. Kang Meng Fuat
3. Chua Hock Kuan
4. Leaw Kok Chan
5. Monna Ong Siew Siew
6. Lee Chin Yong
7. Tan Chong
8. Tan Kok Eng
9. Ooi Jing Ting
10. Leong Kok Wee
11. Chan Quin Er
12. Choong Shin Heng
13. Quek Tai Seong
14. Lee Ban Seng
15. Koh Chin Han
16. Lee Ting Han
17. Lu Yen Tung
18. Ting Zhao Song
19. Tan Gim Tuan
20. Chiew Kai Heng
21. Saw Yee Fung
22. Chin Tung Leong
23. Chua Thiong Gee
24. Wong Yong Teai
25. Wong Tai Chee

• State Chairman:
• Johor: Wee Ka Siong
• Kedah: Chua Thiong Gee
• Kelantan: Chua Hock Kuan
• Malacca: Lim Ban Hong
• Negeri Sembilan: Leaw Kok Chan
• Pahang: Chong Sin Woon
• Perak: Mah Hang Soon
• Perlis: Chuah Tian Hee
• Penang: Tan Teik Cheng
• Sabah: Teah Heok Kuin
• Selangor: Ir. Lawrence Low
• Terengganu: Monna Ong Siew Siew
• Federal Territory: Wee Jeck Seng

}}

{{Three Principles of the People|Outside}}

File:MCA Melaka.jpg

{{main|Members of the Dewan Negara, 15th Malaysian Parliament}}

1. Lim Pay Hen – elected by the Johor State Legislative Assembly
2. Koh Nai Kwong – elected by the Melaka State Legislative Assembly

{{main|Members of the Dewan Rakyat, 15th Malaysian Parliament}}

MCA currently has two MPs in the House of Representatives.

{{main|List of Malaysian State Assembly Representatives (2018–)}}

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Johor State Legislative Assembly{{Composition bar|4|56|hex={{party color|Malaysian Chinese Association}}}}

Malacca State Legislative Assembly{{Composition bar|2|28|hex={{party color|Malaysian Chinese Association}}}}

Perak State Legislative Assembly{{Composition bar|1|59|hex={{party color|Malaysian Chinese Association}}}}

Pahang State Legislative Assembly{{Composition bar|1|47|hex={{party color|Malaysian Chinese Association}}}}

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Kedah State Legislative Assembly{{Composition bar|0|36|hex={{party color|Malaysian Chinese Association}}}}

Terengganu State Legislative Assembly{{Composition bar|0|33|hex={{party color|Malaysian Chinese Association}}}}

Penang State Legislative Assembly{{Composition bar|0|40|hex={{party color|Malaysian Chinese Association}}}}

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Kelantan State Legislative Assembly{{Composition bar|0|45|hex={{party color|Malaysian Chinese Association}}}}

Selangor State Legislative Assembly{{Composition bar|0|56|hex={{party color|Malaysian Chinese Association}}}}

Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly{{Composition bar|0|36|hex={{party color|Malaysian Chinese Association}}}}

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Perlis State Legislative Assembly{{Composition bar|0|15|hex={{party color|Malaysian Chinese Association}}}}

Sabah State Legislative Assembly{{Composition bar|0|79|hex={{party color|Malaysian Chinese Association}}}}

Sarawak State Legislative Assembly{{Composition bar|0|82|hex{{party color|Malaysian Chinese Association}}}}

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{{Politics of Malaysia}}

• List of political parties in Malaysia
• Politics of Malaysia
• Kuomintang

{{reflist|2}}

• James Chin (2016). “From K [https://www.academia.edu/33930007/James_Chin_2016_._From_Ketuanan_Melayu_to_Ketuanan_Islam_UMNO_and_the_Malaysian_Chinese_in_Bridget_Welsh_ed._The_End_of_UMNO_Essays_on_Malaysia_s_Dominant_Party_Strategic_Information_and_Research_Development_Centre_Selang etuanan Melayu to Ketuanan Islam: UMNO and the Malaysian Chinese]” in Bridget Welsh (ed.) The End of UMNO? Essays on Malaysia's Dominant Party (Strategic Information and Research Development Centre: Selangor, Malaysia) pp 226–273
• James Chin. [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00358531003656255#abstract Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) Politics a Year Later: Crisis of Political Legitimacy], The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs Vol. 99, No. 407, April 2010, pp. 153–162
• James Chin. [https://www.academia.edu/2964474/James_Chin_2009_._The_Malaysian_Chinese_Dilemma_The_Never_Ending_Policy_NEP_Chinese_Southern_Diaspora_Studies_Vol._3 The Malaysian Chinese Dilemma: The Never Ending Policy] (NEP), Chinese Southern Diaspora Studies, Vol 3, 2009
• Chin, James (2006). "[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270485145_New_Chinese_Leadership_in_Malaysia_The_Contest_for_the_MCA_and_Gerakan_Presidency New Chinese Leadership in Malaysia: The Contest for the MCA] and Gerakan Presidency". Contemporary Southeast Asia (CSEA), Vol. 28, No. 1 (April 2006).
• Chin, James (2000). "A New Balance: The Chinese Vote in the 1999 Malaysian General Election". South East Asia Research 8 (3), 281–299.
• Chin, James (2001). "[https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/02185370108434192 Malaysian Chinese Politics in the 21st Century:] Fear, Service and Marginalisation". Asian Journal of Political Science 9 (2), 78–94.
• James Chin (2018) [https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/commentary/mca-malaysian-chinese-association-party-election-results-shift-10875556 The Malaysian Chinese Association, set adrift in need of a direction], Channel News Asia, 30 October
• Goh, Cheng Teik (1994). Malaysia: Beyond Communal Politics. Pelanduk Publications. {{ISBN|967-978-475-4}}.
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070616184702/http://www.malaysia-today.net/columns/pillai/2005/11/national-front-parties-were-not-formed.htm "National Front parties were not formed to fight for Malaysian independence"]. Malaysia Today. by Pillai, M.G.G. (3 November 2005)

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