PUTRAJAYA: MIC deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam wants MCA to reconsider its decision to resign from government posts following the party's disappointing performance in GE13.

Dr Subramaniam said the absence of Chinese representatives in the Government would deprive the community of a voice.

He urged Chinese NGOs to hold talks with MCA about having Chinese representation in the Government so that issues relating to the community would receive attention.

“If 28% of the population (Chinese) is not represented, it will have a far-reaching impact.

“We would like to encourage the MCA to stay on (but) it is up to them to analyse the results and make a decision from there,” Dr Subramaniam said in a press conference at the Human Resources Ministry here yesterday.

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said that the party would not take up any government posts after it won only seven parliamentary and 11 state seats out of the 37 parliamentary and 90 state seats it contested in GE13.

Many had blamed the party's poor showing on a “Chinese tsunami”, which saw a big number of voters from the community voting for the Opposition.

Dr Subramaniam, however, said that it was not a racial matter.

“It looks like there is a rejection of the leadership in the Chinese community, with the biggest casualties being MCA, Gerakan and SUPP.

“The Chinese were willing to embrace PAS and the Malays showed acceptance of the DAP, so the racial element is not important.

“We in Barisan will need to address these concerns and issues, leaving the racial arguments aside so that we will remain relevant in the next general election,” Dr Subramaniam said.

Asked on MIC's participation in the Cabinet, Dr Subramaniam said that the party could “maybe” receive two ministerial and two deputy ministerial positions.

MIC managed to retain four out of its nine parliamentary seats and five out of the 18 state seats it contested.

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