It’s not exactly lonely at the top with the number of leaders vying for the president’s post in the party’s elections on March 28
pekyee@thestar.com.my
KUALA LUMPUR: With nominations just a week away, the March 28 MCA election is set to see a crowded race.
There are already four factions — under Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and the Ong brothers (Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting and Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan).
Up for grabs are 31 posts — president, deputy president, four vice-presidents and 25 central committee members.
But many party observers feel that the four groups would narrow down to three eventually. “The supporters are shifting their affiliations,” said a senior party leader.
Nonetheless, the hottest topic is still the president’s post.
The talk is that the fight for the post will also come from proxy candidates apart from a straight fight between incumbent Tee Keat and Dr Chua.
There were calls from a few division leaders for former president Ka Ting to “save the party”.
MCA has 191 divisions nationwide.
Former deputy president Tan Sri Lim Ah Lek and former Kuantan MP Datuk Fu Ah Kiow are said to be orchestrating the return of Ka Ting and Ka Chuan, the former secretary-general.
Ka Ting did not contest in the 2008 elections after the party won only 47 seats in the general election the same year, compared with 106 seats in the previous elections.
Ka Chuan lost to Dr Chua for the deputy president’s post.
“Is this the so-called formula hinted by Ka Chuan?” asked a Youth leader, referring to the Ong brothers’ comeback.
Ka Chuan had told the media that the formula was “one of wisdom that required patience.”
The return of the old guard is not something that may go down well in the party and some even deem it an insult to the present leaders.
“I really don’t know what to say,” a top Youth leader said.
Another senior party leader said he was contemplating nominating Ah Lek to contest for the president’s post but he was not even a central delegate.
“Ah Lek must be the best president ever,” said one leader sarcastically. “He seems to have a solution (for the party crisis) and even thinks that Ka Ting is the best person to execute it. Why didn’t he (Ah Lek) enlighten us before we opted for the fresh polls as a solution?” asked the leader.
The MCA constitution allows any of the MCA central delegates to contest any of the posts.
Any hopeful only needs the support from two fellow central delegates — one to nominate and the other as a seconder.
“Many see a position in the central committee as a ticket for candidacy in the next general election,” said a veteran party leader,
Almost all of those elected from the last party elections are expected to contest for the CC posts, except Tan Kok Hong and Yu Chok Tow who had declared that they were staying out.
Also, Wong Nai Chee and Datuk Wong Mook Leong have been disqualified to contest on technical grounds.
Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen has announced plans to vie for a vice-president’s post.
“With nominations drawing nearer, the team leaders Tee Keat, Dr Chua, Liow and the Ong brothers are finalising their line-up,” said a close observer of MCA politics.
“The line-up must be impressive. Perception does matter in politics,” he added.
While party leaders are busy coming up with their cai dan or menu for the elections line-up, their key supporters are looking at dinner menus during the campaign period.
One thing is for sure — the food caterers are in for a roaring business.
Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/15/nation/5864521&sec=nation
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What if.... MCA is led by
1. The "so clean, no -nonsense" Ong Tee Keat? UMNO may not like it but then he has never the YES-man for any parties, and he stepped on many toes to be the "ever-clean" and to speak out (because he was voted to do that anyway but now they turn their backs to him) Or is he really that clean?
2. The "sex tiger" Chua Soi Lek - has MCA run out of leaders?
3. The "family politics" Ong Ka Ting? Has there been no other surnames in Chinese community?
Y? MCA?
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