MARCH 14 — It is perhaps a testament to how far MCA has fallen that its former president Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting is mulling a comeback in a bid to once again helm Barisan Nasional’s (BN) second biggest party.

It was after all under his leadership that the genesis of the party’s problems today began.

Ka Ting had been a weak party president after inheriting the mantle from Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik in the aftermath of an earlier tussle for power between the latter and Tan Sri Lim Ah Lek.

As president, Ka Ting was unable to consolidate fully his hold on the party and factionalism continued to grow.

In 2008, MCA contributed to its own poor performance in the general elections because it was still rocking from the resignation of Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek as a minister and from party posts because of his sex scandal.

Dr Chua has always maintained that his downfall then was caused by political rivals but he has never openly accused anyone.

Just months before Election 2008, MCA’s No 2 Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy was also forced to announce his “retirement” because of his role in the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal.

If Ka Ting does throw his hat into the ring now, it will not strengthen the party.

The party will then be split further into more factions.

And that is the last thing MCA needs now.

It is clear that party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat has lost control of his own party.

The influential Chinese business community have already made their stand clear with some businessmen declaring Ong as the worst MCA president in the party’s history.

Ka Ting is not far behind Tee Keat in this dubious achievement.

If he makes a comeback now, he will come across as being opportunistic.

After all, he was the one who stepped down to take responsibility for his party’s 2008 debacle.

For now, he can be remembered, at least, for doing the honourable thing then to resign.

Should he now risk the possibility of a humiliating defeat to make a comeback?