Thesun 2008-11-13 Page10 Tee Keats Tough Takes

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theSun

| THURSDAY NOVEMBER 13 2008

news without borders

Tee Keat’s tough takes TO MANY, the immediate reaction to MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat’s choice of appointees is one of surprise, even shock. But, why should it be? If at all, it is expected of a leader who had in his presidential election campaign rooted hard for change and rejuvenation following the March 8 political tsunami which saw MCA’s worst-ever electoral performance. Ong has also been a firm and tough leader – one who is willing to take charge and make difficult decisions. That is also perhaps what MCA sorely needs to pull itself out of the depths of a political quagmire in an extremely fluid socio-political environment. Now, who will dare to continue labelling him the “Lone Ranger” of MCA? Some even described Ong as a “stubborn level-headed” leader before his rise. In an interview with theSun, when asked the risk of not associating himself with a team in the party elections, Ong said: “It’s just a contest. The members decide. If lose, just go. It’s not the end of the world.” That is the brash principle-minded Tee Keat as he is widely known to be. He has remained that way since his tumultuous days in MCA Youth when even the then mighty MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik could not dislodge him. After chairing his maiden central committee meeting for five hours

Comment by Ng Kee Seng [email protected]

on Tuesday, Ong spent about an hour explaining his party’s plans to tackle education, economy and corruption issues to reporters. But he spent less than five minutes on the choice of his appointees after handing the list to reporters. That is, in a nutshell, getting his priorities right. Ong refused to entertain queries from reporters who questioned his rationale for the appointments. And, rightly so, because the members have already spoken through the ballot and now is the time to get down to work. The biggest shock to many was Ong taking charge of Johor MCA, a state touted to be deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek’s fortress. Chua’s hopes of making a comeback to the Cabinet now appears to be extremely slim. He quit as health minister on Jan 1 after a video clip of him having sex with a woman companion was captured by spy camera and made public last December. Some argue that by convention, the party deputy president would be appointed to the Cabinet. That is also

widely quoted as the convention for all Barisan Nasional component parties. That is inaccurate. There is nothing in the party constitution that says the deputy president should be a Cabinet minister. Former MCA deputy president, the late Datuk Richard Ho, was not a minister, and acting MCA president Datuk Dr Neo Yee Pan was also dropped from the Cabinet. In Umno, former deputy president Tun Musa Hitam quit as minister to join forces with Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah to challenge president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. And, former Selangor menteri besar Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib had to sit out for more than 10 years before making a comeback to the Cabinet. Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik was Gerakan president but was not a cabinet minister for quite a while and then MIC deputy president Datuk S.Subramaniam also did not hold any government post. Already, the media has started reporting about splits and leaders being sidelined in the two-million-member party which is Malaysia’s largest Chinese political movement. Incisive, neutralising threats, insulating against danger and consolidation are adjectives that aptly describe Ong’s decisions. But, isn’t that what politics is all about for politicians?

Almost all the president’s men MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat’s line-up With half the number of MCA MPs and assemof state liaison chiefs, secretary-general and other blymen coming from Johor, it is understandable appointed posts has surprised even his own fellow why Ong has given up Selangor to take charge members. of Johor. The new line-up reflects Ong’s efforts to conThe importance of Johor to the new MCA chief solidate his power and to keep in check the growing is also obvious as a number of senior party posts influence of party No 2, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek. are held by Johoreans – Chua, Tan, Youth chief The appointment of Dewan Negara deputy chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong – apart from having four and former Terengganu state liaison chief Datuk elected Central Committee members. Wong Foon Meng as secretaryThe new arrangement general, the No 3 post in the shows that Ong is, directly party, is definitely a surprise, and indirectly, now in control says a commentary in Sin Chew of the largest and second largDaily yesterday. est states. by Kong See Hoh And by putting Wong, now Of the four elected [email protected] his right-hand man, in charge presidents, Datuk Kong Cho of Selangor, the state with the Ha replaced former secretarylargest number of central delegates, means one less general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan as Perak state worry for Ong. liaison chief, Liow Tiong Lai is in charge of Penang Ong’s move to helm Johor himself shows that and Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen continues to helm Kelhe is not taking lightly the buttress of support Chua antan. has in the southern state. He has not picked Tan Kok While Youth chief Wee and Wanita chief Datin Hong, a vice-president from Johor, to head the state Paduka Chew Mei Fun get to lead Malacca and as speculated simply because Tan is a supporter of Perlis respectively, Tan and Chua are left out of the Chua. state chiefs list. Will this scenario be acceptable to Chua is named the Government Policy Monitoring MCA grassroots in Johor? Bureau chief, a post which has no significant power. Also left out of Ong’s bandwagon is Johorean Teng Boon Soon. The deputy unity, heritage, culture and arts minister, a loser in the MCA polls, was not even appointed a CC member. This is seen as another blow to Johor. Cheras MCA chief Tan Sri Tee Hock Seng’s appointment as the treasurer-general is expected but what is surprising is that he was also named Federal Territory MCA chief, replacing Datuk Tan Chai Ho. Another surprise by Ong is his appointment of Kubang Pasu division chief Lim Lye Huat as Kedah state chief, replacing Deputy Home Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung, who was appointed to the CC after having lost the contest for the vice-presidential fight. Meanwhile, Ong has made a decisive move in the long-divided Negri Sembilan MCA by naming Datuk Yew Chai Thiam as the state chief. Both Ong and Yew were in the same camp during the Team A-Team B fight. The appointment of Youth vice-chairman Wyman Yoo Wei How, 35, as the national organising secretary – taking over from Datuk Hon Choon Kim – is yet another surprise. Ong’s new line-up is a bitter pill for Johor and his leadership wisdom and team spirit will be put to test. Already there are grouses among grassroots leaders in Johor that Ong has not kept his party election promise to appoint locals as state chiefs. China Press, meanwhile, commented that Ong has not “forgiven” Chua for the stain on his moral conduct, and the kangkong dish, a reference to the Ong-Chua (pronounced as Ong-cai or kangkong in Mandarin) team in MCA, is only good to look at but not tasty to eat.

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