KUALA LUMPUR — The move by MCA to walk out of an event to unveil Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates for the 16th Melaka state election Saturday night has raised questions regarding the sincerity of its coalition partner, Umno, in their political cooperation.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice president Datuk Chang Lih Kang said this situation also casts doubt on the foundation of BN’s political alliances with other parties, questioning whether they are built on principles and trust, or merely on political interests and power.

“If MCA, a long-standing BN component party, feels disrespected, what does this mean for other parties that have entered into cooperation with BN?

“Is this cooperation based on principles and trust, or is it driven solely by political interests and power?” asked Chang, who also serves as the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, in a statement tonight.

Meanwhile, PKR Women’s Wing vice chief Loh Ker Chean remarked that the MCA should have long been aware of Umno’s style of poor treatment toward its component parties.

Loh noted that the situation stands in contrast to Pakatan Harapan (PH), where Keadilan as a founding party of the coalition does not adopt a ‘big brother’ mentality or bully other parties, as is allegedly the case within BN.

“PMX (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) has always been consultative and inclusive, even when dealing with smaller parties such as UPKO (United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation) in the past.”

“Therefore, PH is stronger and more stable in governing the country,” she said.