Thesun 2009-10-09 Page06 Tee Keat Launches 1mca 1team

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theSun

| FRIDAY OCTOBER 9 2009

news without borders

Tee Keat launches ‘1MCA, 1Team’ by Tan Yi Liang [email protected]

Men in pink pg 21

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat yesterday launched the “1MCA,1Team” progress report on the current MCA leadership team. “We launched this as it has been almost a year since this leadership team was set up. Last year, on Oct 18, this team was elected and there was a lot of suspicion whether this team could function well as there was no ‘endorsed list’,” said Ong. Ong was also quick to say that it was not an attempt to counter Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek’s 24page ‘Reject, Revive, Rejuvenate’ manifesto which was launched on Monday.

“This is not a manifesto. It is not as thick. This is just a list of tasks that have been planned and executed, and also this is part of the MCA Key Performance Index, as this is one of our Key Result Areas (KRAs),” explained Ong, who added that there was still room for improvement. “We need to buck up, especially with some of the initiatives that have yet to be implemented in full force. By and large, so far our team is confident in saying that we have been tested through the various occasions, as we managed to work as a mature team with ample room for meaningful deliberation.” Ong, who was speaking to reporters after the launch ceremony at the MCA headquarters here, said the launch

of the report was not designed to coincide with the party’s extraordinary general meeting (EGM) tomorrow. “Prior to the EGM, no one would have perceived that it was going to fall on such a date, but we were forming an untested team last year and some doubts were raised. This is the time for us to get back to the delegates to report what we have been doing, and this has no bearing whatsoever on the EGM,” he said. Explaining further, Ong said it was time to take stock of the MCA leadership’s achievements and areas of concern. On challenges to his leadership, he said that such challenges did not impact his team. “I said plainly that at all times we wish to get everyone’s support but we need to give room for dissent and we need to be more transparent and accountable to the grassroots and the public,” added Ong. On the “third force” within the MCA who have called for delegates to dump both Ong and his former deputy Chua, Ong said: “You should ask the initiator of the so-called third force. In a democracy, there is nothing prohibiting anyone from saying anything.”

MCA’s circus must stop

‘Third force’ wants vote for party

News analysis by Ng Kee Seng [email protected]

by Giam Say Khoon [email protected]

KUALA LUMPUR: A “third force” has finally emerged on the eve of MCA’s extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to urge the central delegates to reject “strongman leadership” and vote for the party instead of individuals. Third force spokesman Datuk Tan Kah Choun, a central delegate, said he had consulted most of the retired party leaders like Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, Tan Sri Lee San Choon, Tan Koon Swan and several others. “Some of the leaders have encouraged me to deliver the statement to put an end to MCA strongman leadership and to enter into group leadership management,” he told a press conference yesterday. Tan said Tee Keat had ignored the decision made by the delegates by suspending Chua, while, Chua should step down from the MCA leadership to avoid unpleasant comments of the public because of his involvement in a sex scandal. “We wish to urge all central delegates to support the third power to achieve the strong and perfect organisation of MCA,” Tan added. He said once Tee Keat and Chua are ousted, the third force will allow the central committee to choose a new leadership.

MCA is a circus. That’s the most polite description being bandied about by outsiders watching the events in the run-up to the party’s extraordinary general meeting (EGM) tomorrow. Here’s a little recap of what has led to the EGM. It all started in the party elections in October last year when central delegates voted for Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek as president and deputy president respectively. The fact that the delegates, in their wisdom, picked the sex-video-tainted Chua instead of the then secretarygeneral and minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan or Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai, who was then vice-president and deputy minister to be their No 2 is purely a matter of choice. But it was also the beginning of MCA’s leadership troubles. Almost immediately, Chua started attacking Ong, accusing the leadership of marginalising him politically. Next, the Disciplinary Board (DB) then recommended that Chua be sacked for tarnishing the image of the party for his part in the DVD sex scandal, and this was endorsed by the presidential council. Chua found himself out in the cold, and launched an all-out attack, pleading that he is a loyal MCA member who only wanted to retire as an MCA member. He started a signature campaign to call for an EGM to get himself reinstated and sack Ong.

And continued his demands even after the powerful Central Committee decided to veto his sacking and instead suspend his membership for four years. What shocked Chua was Ong’s response. Instead of backing away from a fight, Ong agreed to all of Chua’s demands and his wordy resolutions which are aimed at seizing power for himself (Chua). The EGM also jolted the opportunists in the party – who obviously have their own agenda and interests – and the real circus began with all sorts of “forces” showing up. At least one “retired” top leader is said to have booked a hotel room near the MCA headquarters to meet central delegates to lobby against Ong. Another, whose political career in MCA was derailed prematurely, is said to have subtly demanded for a minister’s post in return for support to Ong. Yet another “retired” top leader is said to be working against Ong in an effort to prevent his past misdeeds from being uncovered. And there are now reports of a socalled “neutral” force that want both Ong and Chua out. But their leaders don’t even have the guts to show their face. It is no wonder Ong, who was elected barely a year ago, has chosen to go back to the central delegates for a new mandate. It is time for the 2,380 delegates to use their wisdom and end the circus by choosing only one leader and the right man for the job.

All eyes on Johor’s 150 fence-sitters WITH the MCA extraordinary general meeting (EGM) just a day away, all eyes are on about 150 fence-sitters in Johor whose votes may well seal the fate of party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and suspended deputy, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek. According to a report in Oriental Daily News yesterday, both Ong and Chua, who are leaving it to the 2,380 central delegates to decide their political future tomorrow, command about 30% of the some 400 votes in the state. The “floating votes”, which account for 40%, are

Press Digest by Kong See Hoh

[email protected]

deemed by both camps as crucial for a win. In the party elections last year, Ong obtained 1,429 votes to beat his opponent, Datuk Seri Chua Jui Meng, who obtained 917 votes Riding on the crest of a popularity wave then, Ong chalked up a majority of 512 votes. The question is, “will he be able to repeat that feat tomorrow?”

Party insiders said Ong and Chua are evenly matched in Johor, which is second only to Selangor in terms of the number of central delegates. They deem the floating voters, who number about 150, as kingmakers. According to the insiders, Chua commands the support of the Gelang Patah, Pulai, Batu Pahat, Pontian, Kota Tinggi, Muar and Segamat divisions whereas Kluang, Pengerang, Simpang Renggam and Mersing are solidly behind Ong. The president also has strong support in the Johor

Baru, Tenggara, Sembrong and Sekijang divisions. Both Ong and Chua are making every effort to win over the fence-sitters, as can be seen by the unusual number of trips both men have made to the southern state lately. A central delegate pointed out that Ong had made no less than three trips to Johor between the time the Port Klang Free Trade Zone fiasco became a full-blown scandal and the announcement of the EGM date. After the EGM date was decided, he made more trips to the state.