Tuesday March 23, 2010
Contenders go ala carte
By WONG SAI WAN
The set menu (tao can cai dan) seems to be missing from this round of the MCA leadership tussle as the three presidential candidates claim they are on their own.
saiwan@thestar.com.my
MANY of the MCA's 2,378 delegates were feted to lunches by the three presidential candidates – Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting – at three separate locations in Kuala Lumpur yesterday before they filed their nominations for the number one post.
Tee Keat had his meeting at the famed Hakka Restaurant in Jalan Imbi, Dr Chua at Corus Hotel just across the road from the party headquarters and Ka Ting at the posh ballroom of Berjaya Times Square Hotel.
By all accounts, the dishes were sumptuous but many of the delegates and supporters somehow felt "unsatisfied" after the meal because things were served differently this time around – their heroes had feted them and spoke at length but yet did not tell them who else to vote for.
It seems there will be noset cai dan (menu) but instead the delegates were asked go "ala carte" – as the three candidates had publicly stated that they were not part of any team.
"It is as if after years of having a set 10-course dinner, our leaders are now telling us to go Western and choose what we want for starters, appetisers, soups and even the main course.
"This is something we are not used to and I do not know how the delegates will react to this seemingly more open approach to an MCA election," said a Negri Sembilan party leader.
Tee Keat, often referred to as the Lone Ranger prior to winning the presidency in 2008, dismissed the need to have a running mate when asked whether he had decided on one.
"We do not have the running mate system. It is our people here who think this is similar to the American system. This is not true," he said.
On the team-up between Ka Ting and Health Minister and deputy president candidate Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Tee Keat said: "You must ask whether they admit it or not."
What the incumbent president was referring to was the presence of Liow at every single Ka Ting function including the Berjaya Times Square lunch. The two of them were even introduced to those at the lunch on the stage together although there was no reference to them being team mates.
Ka Ting has from the very day he announced his candidacy claimed that he too was not serving up any menu or cai dan.
"Liow has already given his support to me and I accept it. I consider him as a comrade if we both get elected. And if there are other leaders who express their support for me, I will accept.
"If I succeed in this (party) election, I will definitely put everybody together, irrespective of which faction they supported," he told reporters at a press conference, which besides Liow, was attended by deputy ministers Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong, Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun and Datuk Chor Chee Heung.
As for Dr Chua, he made sure that when he filed his nomination, he did it without fanfare or having any team mates follow him into Wisma MCA. He was only accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Wong Sek Hin.
However, when he announced his bid for the presidency on Sunday, seated beside him was Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha who is the other candidate vying for the number two post. While Dr Chua came to the Dewan San Choon quite early, Kong arrived about an hour later.
On the question on who were his team mates, Dr Chua said: "I believe the central delegates have the wisdom to vote a team of leaders who can perform."
However, these are still early days, warned a Selangor division chief as there are still seven days to go and the horse-trading has not stopped.
"In the previous elections, the fixed menu had been known to come out at the last minute when all the negotiations were completed.
"Maybe the three candidates do not want to show their hand too early to ensure that their opponents do not find any weakness in their team," he added.
A Perak veteran pointed out that this was the first time there was a three-way fight for the number one post by strong candidates.
"Coming out with an ill-conceived cai dan so early will be disastrous. Not all cai dan are genuine as opponents could put up false menus in an attempt to confuse the delegates," he said, adding that if there were any fixed team lists, they would only be made known closer to polling day.
"At the earliest, I would expect the tao can cai dan or the set menus to be circulated on Friday night when all the delegates are in town. Even then there will be many false ones – some put up by vice-presidential hopefuls who do not belong to any team but are trying to seek 'shelter' under a particular leader," said the veteran.
Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/23/mcaelection2010/5915635&sec=mcaelection2010
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Wonders.....
Will the menu really be out by Friday? Yes, some of those cowards will want to seek "shelter".... these will be the cowards forever.....
When OTK spoke about transform - direct President election, relinquish the menu and changing the culture of Chinese - seems to be a bit successful. Yesterday, according to a few MCA insiders, in his speech OTK was "saddened" to see the shouting and boo-ing each other's camps during nomination at MCA HQ, further asking party elders to educate the young ones to set a proper culture. According to some MCA insiders too, the recently launched 1MCA which was just a few days ago proved that OTK meant what he said but doubtful if it was done to garner votes. "OTK has ideas and good transformation, but his one year as President was too short stitched for him to do any reforms. And that one year was not smooth sailing. As a MP, a Minister and then a President with so many hurdles like PKFZ, EGM, fresh election, he sure has much to endure but these lessons will teach him to be a better President and to remain humble as I have seen him getting to the top too soon making his nose at times high," one uncle said.
Asked the same uncle if OKT and CSL have chance to be President, uncle said, "Semua orang ada peluang!" "Election is funny, the person with least hope will emerge champ! Now talks are saying OTK will lose anyway so why waste the votes so please vote OKT or CSL. The least chance...... could emerge champ!" Uncle (he is definitely OTK supporter!) said....
Insider MCA learnt a lesson or two from uncle, too...
Wonders.....
Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek celebrates with his wife Datin Seri Wong Sek Hin after winning the MCA presidency. 
