By Loan Shark

Tommorow, the three-cornered fight for MCA presidency will be staged to find answer for a bigger question beyond who will lead the six-decade-old, Malaysia's biggest chinese association.

Morally, it is not just about winning the crown of the party but the more important task of winning back the hearts and minds of the rakyat especially the chinese.

MCA has wasted enough time on in-fighting, which has caused it to lose focus on recapturing dwindling Chinese support after 2008 political tsunami swept away almost all of the seat they have contested

The reality as seen by public is that the MCA has fallen into a critical  crisis of confidence. Not only losing the trust of the Chinese community, in  fact its members as well do not trust their leaders because their leaders, as apparently proven from their actions, don't trust each other.

But the major interest of the chinese towards the party election also reflects its concern over the future of the MCA. There is still space in the heart of many for the party's survival.

Whoever championed the presidency must be aware that he cannot hope to win in  next general election if the grassroot feels that it is only good at welfare and services.

Apparently, the expectations and hope of the general public have totally changed, just as the political landscape has changed in this country since 2008 general election.

According to survey of opinion research by an online portal, it found that 62% of all eligible respondents polled in Peninsular Malaysia, agreed that MCA was still relevant to the Chinese community.

The poll also found that 41% of Malays and 45% of Indians agreed that the internal problems of MCA were due to the party’s weakened position after the general election last two years.

As such, those who lose in the party's election tommorow should not leave to form a new party. This will create another problem as the election sees a three-cornered fight between MCA's topliners.

Definitely, the votes could further split the party into three teams.Hopefully the factions in the party would unite after the election, just like the party crisis a few years ago which had split the party into Team A and Team B.

Should this be the case,  it could be the beginning of the end for the MCA as a political party representing the majority Chinese.

The MCA's frontliners must put a stop to the swaying back and forth with allegations and counter allegations against each other.Such attempt at self-destruction is painful and embarrassing.

Central delegates must elect a president who is without baggage, forward looking, and with a passion and vision to lead the chinese and the nation as well.

They possibly have learnt a lot from previous general election that has shown  issues like transparency, accountability, good governance and being seen to be vocal resonate. Hence, they must admit that the party has made mistakes in the past, which led the voters to reject MCA.

Whatever it is, whoever delegates want to vote for, results are expected to be out the earliest at 7pm tomorrow.