Wee Ka Siong, the MCA president, has “revealed” that certain “outsiders” have suggested that Umno expel his party from BN.

In “revealing”, Wee did not “reveal” just who the “outsiders” are.

But he did say this: “Some who were never part of BN now enjoy close ties with Umno.” And said this: “Ironically, these same individuals previously accused MCA of betraying the Chinese community for its relationship with Umno…Now this people are advising you (Umno) to expel MCA.”

Look, one does not have to be a political scientist to know which party or who the “individuals” Wee was referring to.

But let’s not speculate as Wee himself did not (dared not?) want to name names.

Never mind who the “outsiders” are. That’s not the question. To me the question is should MCA continue to be in BN?

Umno has in the past said things unpleasant to MCA. Of late, Umno Youth chief Akmal Saleh reminded MCA to reflect on the two parliamentary seats the party won “due to Malay support” (obtained via Umno? Is that what Akmal meant?).

Then there was this poser by Umno supreme council member Puad Zarkashi “why non-Malays do not support MCA”.

The message of Akmal and Puad to MCA is “tolong sedar diri”.

Yes, both statements were over the controversy surrounding a Facebook post by a Johor MCA leader and the call by MCA vice president Tan Teik Cheng for Akmal to reflect on himself as to why non-Malays dislike him.

But there have been other “unpleasant” things said by Umno aimed directly at the MCA. But who could blame them as MCA itself has said “not so nice” things about Umno also. Just Google for details.

In fact, MCA has also “attacked” the Madani government a number of times.

MCA can claim they were giving “constructive” criticism but let’s be honest.

MCA does not have anywhere else to go. Or to put it nicely, there are not many choices for MCA. And the party is not strong enough to stand on its own.

The attacks were mostly aimed at the DAP who are sitting pretty in government. And MCA has behaved, or rather is still behaving, like the opposition.

And the presence of Wee in events held by former Umno folks or leaders not aligned with the Umno president are not helping matters. Social events notwithstanding.

Wee himself recently made a sarcastic jibe against “someone” in government over the Najib Razak addendum issue.

It’s clear for all and sundry to know who Wee was “poking” at. But again, the MCA president did not, or dared not, name names.

And let’s not forget its “unwillingness” to campaign for the government candidate during the Kuala Kubu Bharu by-election last year. We know who that candidate was, right?

MCA did later turn up and campaigned upon “advice” by the BN chairman. But did they campaign wholeheartedly?

It’s plain to see MCA is “not happy” in government. What more its leaders were not given positions in the Madani administration.

As if that’s not bad or sad enough for the MCA, its main rival (or should I say enemy?) is a senior party in government.

To me, MCA is not a team player in the Unity Government. Hence, I say – why remain in BN? Why not leave?

A throwback to the 2018 general election when the BN was toppled. MCA did contemplate leaving. And Umno still remembers till this day – MCA had wanted to abandon them when they were down.

OK, MCA did stay, but the hurt was already felt.

Now this “revelation” by the MCA president, Umno president cum BN chairman Zahid Hamidi has responded by saying, “It has never been discussed (removing MCA from BN). That suggestion is merely the demand of those who are day-dreaming.”

So, was there such a “suggestion” in the first place?

Anyway, nothing surprisingly in that response. As seen by Azmi Hassan, National Professors Council fellow, “both parties depend on each other and share common interests in facing future challenges”.

I have to state once again what I had written before, i.e. MCA does not have anywhere else to go. Or to put it nicely, there are not many choices for MCA. And the party is not strong enough to stand on its own.

MCA has lost influence in general elections since 2008, and up till now there are no signs of a comeback whatsoever.

When Wee Ka Siong spoke of “outsiders” wanting MCA out of BN and his party was “waiting for Umno’s decision”, was he expecting Zahid to respond the way he responded? If so, Wee got it right.

Or was he “suggesting” that Umno use its influence to get the “outsiders” themselves booted out from the Unity Government?

If so, then it is he (to borrow Zahid’s words) who is “day-dreaming”.

(Mohsin Abdullah is a veteran journalist and now a freelancer who writes about this, that and everything else.)