2 theSun | THURSDAY OCTOBER 29 2009

news without borders

Press Digest
by Kong See Hoh
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

‘Chua aiming to
be Johor MCA
chief again’
by Kong See Hoh
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
FORMER MCA deputy president Datuk Seri
Dr Chua Soi Lek aims to become the party’s
Johor state chief again and is not looking to get
reinstated to his No. 2 post, Nanyang Siang Pau
reported yesterday.
Chua was the Johor chief before he gave
it up along with other party and government
posts in January last year following a sex DVD
scandal.
Chua, who made a comeback by winning
the deputy president’s post in October last year,
was sacked from the party by the presidential
council in August over the scandal but the cen-
tral committee (CC) revised the decision and
suspended him for four years instead.
After failing to get himself reinstated to his
position at the Oct 10 extraordinary general
meeting (EGM), Chua appealed to the Registrar
of Societies (ROS).
In the meantime, he has agreed to work with
party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat under
the Greater Unity Plan.
A source from Chua’s camp told the daily
even if Chua is reinstated to the No. 2 post, he
does not believe he will be given much oppor-
tunity to prove his mettle under Ong.
Chua’s top aide told Nanyang it makes more
sense for Chua to fight for the Johor liaison chief
post with which he can wield his influence.
“As such, what Chua is concerned with is not
how ROS views the status of his position in MCA
but rather whether Ong will appoint him as the
Johor liaison committee chairman,” he said.
However, it is learnt that in resolving their
personal conflicts, Ong and Chua have reached
a tacit agreement on who among them should
head Johor.
The aide said: “If the ROS refuses to reaffirm
Chua’s position as MCA deputy president, Chua
can apply to the court to resolve the matter but
he does not intend to do so”.
Meanwhile, Sin Chew Daily reported that all
eyes are on the Johor state liaison committee
meeting scheduled for Sunday.
Speculation is rife that Ong, who is the current
Johor liaison chairman, will appoint Chua to the
post. He is also expected to name Datuk Tee Siew
Kiong as secretary of the liaison committee.
There is also speculation that Tee will also
replace Yoo Wei How as the national organising
secretary.
I also feel betrayed, says Liow
KUALA LUMPUR: New MCA deputy presi- uncalled for,” he said in an interview. Liow said he believed that there was some-
dent Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai has spoken of Liow said his relationship with Ong was body behind CC member Datuk Ti Lian Ker,
an attempt by some party leaders to “poison”
his relationship with president Datuk Seri Ong
still normal and gave his account of what had
transpired in the time between the Oct 10
a hardcore supporter of Ong, who had been
making verbal attacks against him (Liow) and
Tee Keat for their own personal agenda. EGM and the central committee (CC) meeting claiming that he (Liow) was the leader of the
Liow, who is the health minister, said he on Oct 15. “third force” in the party.
was under siege now and believed the con- Liow said some CC members asked him Liow also said he would take action against
tinuous attacks on his personality and cred- to talk to Ong – who had earlier expressed his those who had defamed him on the allegation
ibility was master-minded by certain leaders desire to resign but then changed his mind that his wife had accepted a Toyota Alphard
who “want to create a split in the party”. – to find an amicable solution before the vehicle costing almost RM600,000 as a gift on
“I also feel betrayed. I supported Ong all meeting. For this, Liow said, he was accused his behalf.
this while. I supported his effort to have one of betraying and plotting to topple Ong and “I have given my fullest cooperation to the
MCA. Only after the Oct 10 EGM (extraordi- was called names like “traitor”, “betrayer” Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and
nary general meeting) did the situation turn and “CC mutineer”. the police. I want to clear my name. I will also
sour. I not only became a victim but was also “This is very unfair. I have to defend my- take legal action against those trying to defame
betrayed. self and defend the CC members who have me. This is serious character assassination.
“All of us were together before but after been accused of backstabbing the president,” “I traded in my car to get a reconditioned
Oct 10 there has been name-calling. This is he added. Alphard. That’s all,” he said. – Bernama
Ka Siong dares Tee Keat to tell the truth
by Giam Say Khoon prerogative to make deci- party affairs but said he would
newsdesk@thesundaily.com sions without acknowledging let the president decide
the CC. when to call for the next CC
KUALA LUMPUR: MCA Youth chief Commenting on Ong’s meeting.
Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong yesterday statement, Wee said that Bernama reports that
challenged party president Datuk while leaders have a right Ong, in a blog posting yester-
Seri Ong Tee Keat to come clean to refuse to answers ques- day, defended himself from
on the greater unity plan and not tions, the stand of the CC attacks by party officials,
keep the central committee (CC) members was clear as they and said the unity plan was
only wanted to know the to heal the party and place it
members in the dark.
truth. on track for the next general
The truth needs to be told, he
“If one does not have election.
said, adding the press conference
the courage to speak the Prime Minister Datuk Seri
held on Tuesday by 15 CC members
was to express their unhappiness truth, how is he going to Najib Abdul Razak had given
over the current situation. survive in politics?” he his blessings to the plan, Ong
The 15 CC members, including asked at the Parliament said.
deputy president Datuk Seri Liow lobby. “I find it perplexing why I
Tiong Lai, Wee and Wanita chief Datin On whether the re- need the CC’s permission when
Paduka Chew Mei Fun, explained lationship between Ong I try to bring about unity in the
that the CC was not told about the and the CC members party. Do these people hope
plan that was agreed to by Ong and would deteriorate over to see the party being dragged
former deputy president Datuk Seri this latest development, down by continuous infighting,
Dr Chua Soi Lek. Wee said there is always just so they can achieve their
They had also demanded that room for negotiation. selfish ambitions?
the plan be endorsed by the CC be- On Monday, Wee said “Do they understand the im-
fore it is implemented. Further, they the outcome of the EGM portance of putting the greater
alleged that Ong did not state his must be respected as it unity plan to work, so that MCA
intention clearly before announcing is the highest body to can continue with its healing and
his decision to stay on as president determine the future reforms following the setbacks in
despite losing a vote of confidence of the party. the last general election? Are they
at the Oct 10 extraordinary general On Oct 10, both Ong and Chua’s uphold not prepared to set aside their self-
meeting (EGM). leadership was rejected by the the public trust in him. interest for the sake of MCA and
Ong had reportedly said that central delegates but Ong decided to Liow, when met at the parlia- the nation?” Ong said, adding no
as the party president, he had the stay on as president, saying he must ment lobby, refused to comment on one should question the unity plan.

Chua may send

More trouble for PKR Sabah
as Christina Liew quits
KOTA KINABALU: Parti Keadilan
Rakyat (PKR) Sabah has suffered
another blow, with Kota Kinabalu divi-
sion chief Christina Liew announcing
her resignation as a supreme council
member yesterday, following in PKR
vice-president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitin-
gan’s footsteps.
However, Liew who was replaced
as Sabah PKR deputy chairman said
she would remain as a party member
and retain the post of Kota Kinabalu
division chief.
“I will be submitting my resigna-
tion letter to the party president
today,” she said.
Liew said she had always believed
that the party was fair and transpar-
ent until the appointment of Ahmad
Thamrin Jaini and Datuk Kong Hong
Ming as PKR Sabah chief and deputy
chief respectively.
“My mum had to take the public
humiliation of me being replaced
(deputy chairman) for unknown
reasons. I worked so hard for the
last nine years to promote Sabah
PKR. Since the party has disregarded
my contribution, I will bow out with
dignity now,” she said.
Jeffrey announced his intention to
resign as PKR vice-president and as a
member of the supreme council and
political bureau on Tuesday, dealing a
major blow to the party’s attempt to
strengthen itself in Sabah.
Jeffrey, who was expected to
send his quit letter to the party
headquarters yesterday, will remain
an ordinary member of the party,
according to a former aide.
It is believed that many of the divi-
sion chiefs, including Jeffrey himself,
were disappointed with the decision
of PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri
Anwar Ibrahim to appoint Ahmad
Thamrin as the party’s new chief in
the state. Sabahan Ahmad Thamrin
was named the new state PKR chief
last weekend after a group of division
chiefs said they had no confidence in
PKR vice-president Azmin Ali leading
the state PKR.
In Tawau, Kong said he was sur-
prised at Jeffrey’s decision, adding
he (Jeffrey) was in agreement with all
decisions with regard to the appoint-
ment of Ahmad Thamrin.
“I respect his decision but do not
agree with the assumption that the
appointment of the new Sabah PKR
chief did not meet the wishes of the
division chiefs,” he said.
A Sabah PKR meeting held on Oct
22 in Kota Kinabalu, attended by all
the 25 divisions and liaison chiefs
including Jeffrey, agreed that the
appointment of the state PKR chief
be left to the party president, Kong
said. – Bernama
in formal appeal,
says Hisham
KUALA LUMPUR: Home Minister Datuk
Seri Hishammuddin Hussein yesterday ad-
vised former MCA deputy president Datuk
Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek to submit a formal
letter should he want to make an appeal to
be reinstated to his party post.
Chua was sacked from the party by the
presidential council in August over the DVD
sex scandal but the central committee (CC)
revised the decision and suspended him for
four years instead.
The MCA extraordinary general meeting
on Oct 10 voted against reinstating Chua to
the post, following which he appealed to the
registrar of societies (ROS). However, the
ROS said the party should resolve the matter
itself.
Hishammuddin told reporters at the
Parliament lobby the proper procedure for
Chua now is to appeal to him under Section
18 of the ROS Act.
He had said on Tuesday that Chua had
sent another letter to the ROS furnished with
“additional information” but said he did not
know whether the second letter was an ap-
peal from Chua.
“I would like to see the status of the
second letter sent by Chua. If it can be
construed as an appeal, then I will make a
decision that is final.”
“If it is not, I would advise Chua to appeal
against the decision of the registrar directly
because that is the procedure under the Act
and I will look into it,” he said, adding that
he will also seek legal advice on the matter.