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Finally, pg18
this is it
Tian Chua
jailed, fined
RM3,000
by Tan Yi Liang
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
KUALA LUMPUR: Batu MP Chua Tian Chang
(pic) was jailed six months and fined RM3,000
yesterday for biting a police constable while
resisting arrest, a court sentence that will cost
him his Dewan Rakyat seat.
In passing sentence, magistrate Mohd Faizi
Che Abu said members of Parliament were not
above the law, and that he intended for the
sentence to serve as a message to the public
to respect law enforcement and the orders of
the court.
An MP can be stripped
of his post if he is sen-
tenced to a jail term of
more than a year or a fine
exceeding RM2,000.
Mohd Faizi rejected
an earlier mitigation plea
submitted by Chua’s
counsel, Ranjit Singh and
Amer Hamzah Arshad,
that since the offence,
Chua was elected to
the Batu parliamentary seat by a 9,400-vote
majority, and was diligent in performing his
functions as MP. However, he allowed a stay
of execution pending appeal by Chua, who is
Parti Keadilan Rakyat strategic director.
He said Chua, who was charged with hurt-
ing constable Rosyaidi Anuar, 21, in front of
Parliament House on Dec 11, 2007 was not a
credible witness. Chua was arrested during a
Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections gathering
to protest against extending the retirement
age of Election Commission members.
The first-time MP was charged under the
Penal Code and could have faced a three-year
jail term, a fine or both.
Mohd Faizi, who said Chua’s defence was
a mere denial, added that a video recording
of the incident further strengthened the
prosecution’s case. “Although the video re-
cording did not show the biting, I believe he
did as the policeman had testified that he had
punched the accused and Chua had retaliated
by biting,” he said.
Chua maintained his innocence. “The only
technical point is the circumstantial evidence
which led the judge to believe my guilt. I am
appealing. As an activist, I will continue to fight
for change,” he said, flashing his teeth.
Member of Audit Bureau of Circulations (Malaysia)
» Hisham outlines changes to ISA pg2
Foes unite
for 1MCA
by Giam Say Khoon
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
UALA LUMPUR: The MCA
K
leadership crisis has been
resolved. Party president
Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and
his former deputy Datuk Seri
Dr Chua Soi Lek agree to work as a
team – without pre-conditions – to
strengthen and unite the party.
Ong told a press conference
at party headquarters yesterday
that the “greater unity plan” has
TELLING IT AS IT IS
» The Rulers of Negri Sembilan pg12
received the blessing and support
of Prime Minister and Barisan
Nasional chairman Datuk Seri
Najib Abdul Razak. Both Ong and
Chua met Najib on the matter.
As such, Ong said he is review-
ing his earlier instruction to party
secretary-general Datuk Wong
Foon Meng to call for an extraor-
dinary general meeting (EGM) to
decide whether fresh party polls
should be held.
He said it was time to forgive
and forget and look at the bigger
2009 AWARDS
Award winning newspaper
for excellence in
investigative reporting
No. 4871 PP 2644/12/2009 (023092)
Friday
October 23, 2009
www.sun2surf.com
Speak up!
All for one and one for all ... Like
The Three Musketeers, Chua, Liow
and Ong join hands and pledge to
forgive and forget their differences
and work towards uniting the
60-year-old party yesterday.
Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee
Ka Siong and Wanita chief Datin
Paduka Chew Mei Fun are on
official assignment in Geneva.
When the press conference
started 2.45pm, only Ong and
Chua were present. Later Wong
whispered to Ong, and they both
left the room to return 10 minutes
later with Liow.
Asked what role Chua would
play in the party, Ong said it was
premature to make any conclu-
sions now. However, he said the
party took into account Chua’s
support and when it implemented
its greater unity plan, the voices of
the delegates will be included. He
however did not outline the plan,
only saying that it was mainly to
provide a platform for all quarters
within the party to work together
as a team cohesively.
The problems started when the
MCA presidential council adopted
the disciplinary board’s recom-
ORIENTAL DAILYPIX
mendation to expel Chua for tar-
nishing the party’s image by being
filmed having sex with a woman
in a hotel. The central committee
(CC) subsequently overturned the
decision and suspended Chua’s
membership for four years.
An EGM was held on Oct 10
during which three resolutions
were put before central delegates.
The outcome: Ong lost a motion of
no-confidence, Chua’s member-
ship was reinstated but delegates
rejected him as deputy president.
Before the EGM, Ong had said
he would have to resign if any of
picture of what was good, not for the resolutions were passed. But
individuals, but for the party. at a CC meeting five days later, he
He pledged to reach out to all called for another EGM to decide
leaders and strive to form an all- if fresh elections for the CC should
inclusive MCA that will represent be held when he faced pressure to
the interest of the community. step down. That meeting elected
At the press conference were Liow as deputy president.
Chua, newly-elected deputy presi- Asked if he can work with Chua,
dent Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Ong said he is “optimistic as well
vice-presidents Datuk Seri Kong as hopeful that we are committed
Cho Ha, Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen to the party course, that we will be
Yen, Wong and several central able to work it out”.
committee members. They posed
for the classic all-for-one photo. » Turn to Page 2