We like to watch relay races to see how athletes hand off the baton to the next runner. Its victory formula is always the same. It requires a high degree of trust and tacit understanding among the four athletes.

But the relay race of the MCA leadership has turned into a chaos, some have lost their baton while some fell. It is really deplorable.

President Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat wants to "reform", former Deputy President Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek wants to "change the leadership" and former President Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting wants to "save the party".

Every MCA central delegates is now being bombarded by various factions. They have been labeled as "Tee Keat", "Chua" or "Ka Ting".

The 61-year-old political party is unable to get rid from the curse of infighting.

Infighting is terrible as it destroys the values of humanity by every conceivable means. Also, it exposes the ugliest faces during the muckraking game.

At this very moment, how many party members are still concerned about national issues? And how many party members are able to calmly think: What is the reason for the fight?

In his book Slowness, Czech-born French writer Milan Kundera made a profound description of politicians: He challenges the world: Who can show better moral sentiments (more courageous, more honest, more willing to dedicate themselves and more sincere) than him? He uses all the opportunities to make the moral level of his opponents to be lower than his."

That is why, we can see them muckraking, labeling and smearing. All kinds of words, including "betrayers", "shameless", "promise breakers", "anti-democracy" and "liars" can also be heard during the party crisis.

Do not be surprised, it is all the same for the world's political arenas. It will be ruthless once they fight.

Instead of how to compete and perform on the stage, all politicians in the world find it most difficult to learn how to perfectly step down.

All politicians, including those who refuse to step down and those who are fighting their way to the stage, share one similarity: They think that their missions are not completed yet. Therefore, just as Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said, he still has to jump up even if he has already lain in the coffin!

Aren't "reform", "change the leadership" and "save the party" their missions? (By LIM MUN FAH/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily)