Today (15 Oct) is important for two major member parties of BN.

On this day, UMNO will hold a special assembly sitting to debate on the proposed amendments to the party's constitution involving eight motions. Among the most important motions are, to abolish the quota system and to increase the voting base to elect leaders to the division level whereby 146,500 members will be eligible to vote as compared to only 2,510 people now, in order to eliminate money politics within the party.

On the same day, MCA Central Committee is going to hold a meeting to discuss on the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) results. They are going to decide whether to urge party President Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, who has been voted no-confidence, to stay or to choose a new President and Deputy President among the existing Central Committee. Or, to accept the resignation suggestion and hold a fresh party elections, so that the central delegates will elect a new leadership.

By then, UMNO central delegates and MCA central committee will play the key role of a historical turning-point. Their decisions will affect the success or failure, as well as the future of the two parties.

However, if we look from the watershed in the history of the two parties, today's UMNO and MCA are showing two contrasting scenes.

After the 8 March general elections, UMNO learned from the bitter experience and made a peaceful transfer of leadership. After taking over the office, party President Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak started to lead UMNO towards a series of reforms and gradually, he found its footing. Today, Najib is in control of the whole party. Also, UMNO has started to revitalise and the great victory in the Bagan Pinang by-election has boosted the party's morale.

On the other hand, MCA is still living under the shadow of the election defeat while its leaders have been caught in zero-sum battles. The EGM held on 10 Oct was not the end of the party crisis. Instead, it was the prelude for a greater internal struggle. The split is still expanding and the chances for a re-integration are narrowing.

During an interview two days before the UMNO General Assembly, Najib said that it is time for UMNO to change to a political party looking after the interests of all Malaysians, and not only the Malays and bumiputra. Although it does not mean that UMNO will open its doors to all races right now, he stressed that: “It would be left to the members to determine that sometime in the future, when they were ready.”

Najib's remarks seem to have supported an analysis from a website: As it is an indisputable fact that MCA, MIC and Gerakan can no longer help BN to fight for the support of Non-Malay voters, Najib will continue his own efforts to try to directly gain support from Non-Malay voters, without the assistance of MCA and MIC.

Does this mean that the status of MCA in BN will be further marginalised?

On 15 Oct, all UMNO members are getting ready for a more dynamic, democratic and transparent party with full confidence.

On 15 Oct, all MCA members are uneasily facing with an unknown situation and a party with gloomy prospects. (By LIM MUN FAH/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily)