Kartini Aboo Talib of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia said PN information chief Azmin Ali’s suggested partnership with MCA was due to the lack of support for PN’s non-Malay component parties.

But while MCA has a stronger base in assets and machinery, having been established for 75 years, she did not see MCA as capable of challenging DAP’s foothold among the non-Malays, especially Chinese voters.

“Gerakan, the Malaysian Indian People’s Party and Bersatu’s associate wing have no fangs. The latter two are still new and have no following. On the other hand, PN is trying to work with MCA because it is the earliest party to look after the interests of the Chinese community.

“It’s just that MCA, too, seems to have lost its fangs, because the majority of Chinese want a party that’s more active and outspoken in defending their language and culture. And that’s being dominated by DAP currently,” she told FMT.

Zaireeni Azmi of Universiti Sains Malaysia also did not expect MCA to have much of an impact on PN’s chances of wooing non-Malays, saying the Barisan Nasional component currently lacks leaders with the “wow factor” to attract the community.

“MCA might add some value, but it will be minimal. I don’t see them having a big impact, so PN cannot bank on MCA. PN needs to find other ways to win over the community, for example, by putting forth a non-Malay leader as its spokesman for certain issues,” she said.

On Wednesday, Azmin reportedly said PN was studying several strategies to shore up non-Malay support, including the possibility of working with MCA.

The Selangor opposition leader said working with MCA was “not impossible” as the BN component seemed sidelined in the unity government.

MCA Youth information chief Neow Choo Seong turned down the proposal, saying the party is sticking to BN and has not thought of forming a new alliance.