2 theSun | FRIDAY AUGUST 28 2009

news without borders

‘Public figure expected to behave’

by Ng Kee Seng
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: The MCA Disci-

plinary Board (DB), which recom-
mended the sacking of party deputy
president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi
Lek, had taken the stand that a public election unless some drastic actions
figure is expected to behave and that are taken,” said the summary. The
he has to give up the “luxuries” of DB members unanimously advised
a private person, including having the presidential council that Chua be
extra-marital affairs.
“He cannot be a public fig-
ure and (continue to) enjoy the
luxuries of a private person at
the same time and, when he is
caught, he will not be allowed
to defend and excuse himself
by saying it is my private life.
“To Malaysians, a public
figure represents his family,
organisation or party, commu-
nity and the nation,” the DB’s
five-page executive summary
report to the MCA presidential
council stated.
As such, the summary
of the DB’s 46-page report
and 110-page appendix of
witnesses said, its five panel
members had no difficulty
concluding that Chua can no
longer be said to be an asset of
the party.
The DB found that Chua
had failed to uphold the image
and reputation of MCA and
that the sex video tape also
“haunted” and hurt the party
and the government.
“It is going to continue to
‘haunt’ and hurt MCA and
the government in the future,
especially in every forthcom-
ing by-election and general
It cited the 1998 expulsion of
former Kapar 4th Mile branch chair-
man Tan Yoke Chung and seven
others for “illegal gambling” in the
expelled with immediate effect. party branch premises during Chi-
nese New Year.
“One of the aims and objects
of MCA is to foster, safeguard,
advance and secure the
political, social, educational,
cultural, economic and other
interests of Malaysians of Chi-
SNAP AND WIN nese descent.
“In the minds of Malaysians
TICKETS TO ANY DESTINATION of Chinese descent, who are
IN MALAYSIA! renowned to have been influ-
enced by the traditional Confu-
cian teachings, how would they
compare illegal gambling with
adultery. Both types of conduct
are, of course, bad. MCA PJ (Utara) adviser Wong Leong (right)
MALAY
SIAN H “But in terms of the degree and Puchong MCA vice-chairman Datuk
PH T OSPITA
LITY
of ‘badness’, which type of con- Theng Book with the MCA constitution
CONTE duct is worse than the other? during the launch of the ‘Save MCA‘
ST However, ‘adultery’ has never campaign in Petaling Jaya yesterday.
enjoyed such a ‘status’ in the
Malaysian Chinese commu-
nity, which MCA represents,” council for further decision. Chua:
Capture people, food, f d traditions,
t diti said the DB members. Sak also admitted that the previ- » did not deny the woman in the sex
The DB also reported that ous DB had not disposed off the video is not his legal wife;
cultures and anything else that best
a previous board member, complaint. On the record of the DB » did not offer to resign from the
showcases Malaysian Hospitality. Tan Sri Dr Sak Cheng Lum, is a resolution to put on hold this party and government post in his first
testified on Aug 4 that the complaint temporarily. press conference on Jan 1, 2008;
complaint against Chua was On March 3, the council decided to » admitted that his only mistake was
considered by the previous refer the 40 outstanding complaints that “he stayed in the same room and
For more information, go to DB in its meeting on July 18 received from April 2008 to March in the same hotel”;
www.sun2surf.com/mas.html last year and it was resolved 1 to the DB. » blamed the person or persons who
to refer the complaint to the Among the facts listed by the DB, recorded his misconduct
» in his second press conference on
Jan 2, 2008, in Putrajaya, announced
his resignation from all positions

‘Partyless’ Chua to
in the party, government and as
Labis MP because people did not

Chua Soi Lek factfile want him any more. In spite of his
announcement, he only resigned

go on holiday
PETALING JAYA: Sacked MCA deputy presi-
dent Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said he will
enjoy his “partyless” status and go for a short
holiday with his family and friends.
In his blog (drchua9.blogspot.com) yester-
day, Chua said his position now was worse
than when he resigned as party vice-presi-
dent and health minister on Jan 2 last year
after the sex video scandal was made public
because “today, I don’t even have a party”.
“I did not realise that the MCA Discipli-
nary Board (DB), led by an aging lawyer, has
deemed fit to recommend me to be sacked
21 months after I resigned from all party and
government posts for the same reason as
when I resigned in January 2008.
“If there is provision for sentencing of
death physically, I am sure the DB would
have no hesitation in recommending
me to face the gallows. The reason is
obvious why I need to be sacked. Will
my sacking boost MCA’s image? I have
to assume that the president today is as
clean and clear as crystal. Only time will
tell,” he said.
“My phone has not stopped ringing.
Today, I spend my time trying to read all
the SMSes. Probably, this is to keep me
occupied since I am now partyless.
“The press has not stopped harassing
me. It is actually quite funny and fun,”
added Chua.
“So friends, give me a chance to
rest. People will be thinking that I will be
working very hard, but as usual, I take
everything in my stride,” he said.
» Made his foray into federal politics in 2004 by winning the Labis
parliamentary seat in the 12th general election
from all party and government
posts but did not submit his letter
of resignation to the parliament
» Appointed health minister on March 24 by then prime minister, speaker as required and
Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, replacing Datuk Seri Chua Jui Meng » was allowed to participate in
» Admits in a press conference on Jan 1, 2008, that the man in the the party elections last October
video having sex with a woman in a hotel suite is him as the investigation was pending
» The following day in a press conference in his ministry, announces and that a person is presumed
his resignation from all party posts and as MP innocent until found guilty.
» Contested the MCA deputy presidency in a three-cornered fight The DB chairman is former
last October and won minister and secretary-gen-
» Appointed MCA Government Policy Monitoring Bureau chairman eral Ng Cheng Kiat. Other panel
by president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat members are Datuk Jimmy Low
» Appointed Barisan Nasional (BN) national co-ordinator for Paka- Boon Hong (deputy), Datuk Ng
tan Rakyat (PR)-held states Soon Por, Dr Lai Kuan Fook and
» On Wednesday, MCA presidential council collectively decided Lau Chih Siang.
to endorse MCA Disciplinary Board’s unanimous advice to expel
Chua from the party with immediate effect for tarnishing the image
of MCA (For the full executive summary
report to the MCA presidential
council, visit sun2surf.com)