Wee said MCA wanted to be part of a strong opposition force to keep the government in check.

“Mahathir has hinted he wants a strong opposition. That is what he said. He should practise what he preaches,” he told FMT.

Wee was commenting on Mahathir’s interview with local daily Sin Chew Daily in which he said MCA should consider shutting down after public rejection of the Chinese party, a component in the Barisan Nasional (BN).

He reminded Mahathir not to brush MCA aside as there were several more years before the next general election.

Saying the party had acknowledged its shortfalls, he added: “We are not throwing in the towel. This is part of the ups and downs in politics.”

Wee, the sole MCA MP, said even though PH had tried to portray itself as a multiracial coalition, the prime minister was from race-based PPBM.

Similarly, MCA, which comprises Chinese members, would also continue to function, he said.

MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker said there were clear signs that other component parties were unequal partners in Pakatan Harapan.

This was evident by their not objecting to Mahathir’s third national car idea and the possibility that he may not be passing the baton to PKR’s Anwar Ibrahim after two years.

“PPBM is acting like Umno of the past.

“It is also clear that PH is all about Mahathir,” he said.

Ti, a lawyer, said it was almost like the previous style of BN administration, which was Umno-centred and Mahathir-centric when he was the fourth prime minister.

He said even though the 69-year-old MCA did not have any posts in the government, it would continue to fight for what was right.

“We will continue to voice out grouses,” he added.