THEY were poor and had no one to turn to.

That was life for the majority of the Chinese in Malaya shortly after World War II ended.

Accused of being pro-communists, they also faced impending deportation to a then-turbulent China by their colonial masters.

It was during that time when a man by the name of (Tun) Tan Cheng Lock from Malacca came to their rescue.

He worked hard to stop the deportation, got them citizenship and helped them to settle down in Malaya.

Those were the circumstances that led to the birth of MCA on Feb 27, 1949, with Cheng Lock as the first president. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Turning 67 this year, the party is now at the crossroads.

Its survival now hinges on the support from the community which hit an all-time low during the last general election in 2013.

While the situation of the Chinese community then and now are very different, MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai pointed out that the party’s mission remained the same.

“We are as committed and are relevant to the needs of Malaysians.

“This is more so because of the uncertainties posed by racial and religious extremism these days,” he said, citing the Islamic State (IS) threat as an example.

He pointed out that this was also a period that called for moderation more than ever.

“Malaysia is a stable and harmonious multi-racial society. MCA, being part of the Government, must have the strength to ensure that it can continue to play this very crucial role.

“We must never take what we have for granted,” he stressed.

He said that all the party asked from the Chinese community was support to continue with its mission.

While MCA might not have done enough or lived up to the people’s expectations, the party does have a track record to share.

Take education for instance. It is a major concern among the Chinese and ranks high in the party agenda.

Like it or not, Chinese schools in the country are synonymous with MCA. The party’s 47-year-old Tunku Abdul Rahman College (now known as Tunku Abdul Rahman College University) has produced some 180,000 graduates to date.

For many poor families, the college is a very important institution providing their children with the education crucial to break the poverty cycle.

MCA’s Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar), which was set up in 2002, has produced 43,000 graduates.

Both institutions boast very affordable fees. For those who could not afford the low fees, they have access to financial aid. For Utar alone, a total of RM95mil had been given out as loans or scholarships since its inception in 2002.

MCA also boasts an impressive track record in its role in developing the country alongside with the Chinese community since independence.

He said the party and Chinese community would continue that crucial role in today’s increasingly globalised and competitive world market.

“As a party and part of the government, MCA continues to play a vital role in coming up with more economic platforms for the younger generation, including helping them to penetrate the world market.”

While Liow acknowledged that the flagging economy and rising cost of living are plaguing the people who in turn blame the Government for it, he said the problems had to be tackled in a pragmatic manner.

“Let us tackle these challenges together,” he said, adding that the party viewed the people’s problems seriously.

Liow said that in order to move forward, unity is vital within the party, as well as between the party and the Chinese community.

“Let us work together and we will definitely be stronger together and help the nation to progress,” he said ahead of the party’s anniversary celebrations at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

He also urged the young to give their support to the party and to use it as a platform to serve the people.

At 55, Liow, from Malacca, was a former student activist at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. He has been with MCA since his graduation in 1986.

“MCA is in the Government because of support from the Chinese community. Divisive politics fuelled by emotions will lead us to nowhere,” said Liow, who is the 10th MCA president.-thestar