The March general elections have been described as a political tsunami, but to more than a million MCA members, the latest party elections could be depicted as a tornado.

Chua Soi Lek emerged as the new deputy president while Ng Yen Yen was elected one of the vice presidents with the third highest number of votes, showing that the central delegates really wanted a change.

Although the latest party elections stressed the absence of "menu culture," we cannot deny that Soi Lek was not handpicked by the outgoing leadership, but Ong Ka Chuan, the favoured assistant of newly elected party president Ong Tee Keat.

Nonetheless, the central delegates did not swallow in its entirely everything which had been planned by the leadership. Not unlike the March general elections in which BN lost its control over nearly half of the country, MCA's party election results clearly reflected a distinct discrepancy between the viewpoints of the leadership and those of grassroots leaders. Meanwhile, this phenomenon also manifested the true essence of democracy.

MCA badly requires a change in response to the current situation and the drastic changes taking place after the March general elections. Over 2,000 central delegates cast their votes to express what they felt and thought. They no longer subscribed to the paternalistic style of leadership that was the rule of the day in the past. What the delegates wanted to see was the leaders' capability as well as distinct stands. Submissiveness does not fit into their book any more.

Soi Lek is often seen as a strong leader. After the humiliating defeat in the general elections, perhaps this kind of leaders is what members can lay their hopes on, while a distinct direction is the hope party members can look forward to in this turbulent era. If MCA continues to cling on to its conciliatory approach in dealing with things, how do we expect anyone to speak out against inequalities or irregularities?

In a similar manner, Ong Tee Keat has leapt to the pinnacle of party leadership with his "lone ranger" disposition. If not for his unwavering stand in the "RM30,000 to RM3,000" issue, he might not have become MCA's one and only remaining MP for Selangor, let alone the supreme leader of this million-strong party.

If Tee Keat has been a hero created by the environment, rising from the ashes of MCA, then Ng Yen Yen should rightly be more so.

At a time when MCA is in dire need of change, Yen Yen has harnessed the unique opportunity to create history by becoming the party's first female vice president. While to a large extent her phenomenal rise could be attributed to her "3+1" policy, if she has not given it a try, she might just end up being swept into obscurity by the massive currents of history.

MCA has now arrived at a historical crossroad. The party must bank on the opportunity to bring about the much needed reforms instead of blindly obliging itself to the status quo. The party can no longer demand grassroots members to give it a chance while itself is not creating any opportunity for grassroots members. Otherwise the leadership will be further distanced from the grassroots and the party will sink deeper into oblivion come the next political tsunami.

The party election results also show that a Cabinet post might not guarantee a ticket to a higher party post. The defeat of Ong Ka Chuan and Chor Chee Heung has attested to the fact that after the March general elections, government posts are no longer a determinant factor when central delegates cast their votes.

Now that the new leadership has taken shape, it is time for the coordination of the new leadership to be put to test, of which the Ong Tee Keat-Chua Soi Lek match should command much attention. How the duo will lead the party through the current difficulties, secure an equitable status with UMNO and restore public confidence and mandate, will very much decide whether the party can stage a triumphant comeback in the next general elections. (By LOW YAK BUANG/Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily)