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Tee Keat’s art of war

By Deborah Loh

October 26, 2009

“The outcome would be clear, the writing would be on the wall. If that happens, then my democratic principle is the whole lot [of us] will have to go, the entire presidential council.”

“Once a simple majority is obtained, I will be left with no choice but to step down. Anyone who argues that I do not need to do so, or that only a two-thirds majority is needed to boot me out … is a great lie.”

DATUK Seri Ong Tee Keat vows to quit as MCA president should the party’s 10 Oct 2009 extraordinary general meeting (EGM) reinstate Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek as deputy president. Ong said even a simple majority in favour of reinstating Chua would be akin to a no-confidence vote against him and the presidential council. This was because the council had sacked Chua, who had been caught having sex with a woman who was not his wife in a secretly made video that was circulated. Chua’s sacking was later commuted to a four-year suspension by the party central committee. (Source: Ong: Democratic principles mean we must go if proposal accepted, The Star, 19 Sept 2009)

“I still have a long list of unfinished business involving party and public interests, like the direct election of the MCA presidency and the Port Klang Free Zone issue. It is my wish to see such issues addressed without any abrupt disruptions.”

Ong, in a blog posting after chairing an MCA central committee meeting on 15 Oct 2009. The meeting was to discuss the results of the 10 Oct EGM, in which delegates passed a vote of no confidence against Ong, and reinstated Chua as a party member but not as deputy president.

Ong refused to speak to the press after the meeting, but used his blog to say he had directed the party secretary-general to call for a second EGM, this time to decide whether fresh elections should be held. In other words, Ong refused to resign. (Source: Tee Keat clings on, Liow is No 2 and MCA heads for implosion, Malaysian Insider, 15 Oct 2009)

“It is also morally wrong to hijack the original intention of the extraordinary general meeting … just so certain quarters can get short cuts to political elevation in their careers.”

Ong, explaining why he wanted fresh elections following the 10 Oct EGM in which delegates rejected his leadership and also Chua as deputy president. His statement followed pressure from the MCA central committee for him to resign. (Source: Tee Keat: No short cuts to the top, Malaysian Insider, 18 Oct 2009)

“I am sad over how easily friendship can deteriorate in a situation influenced by personal political gains. To me, friendships should be valued, especially among comrades. You cannot abandon a friendship when you are faced with challenges.”

Ong, lamenting his “betrayal” by friends, in an apparent reference to newly appointed MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai. Liow had led the majority of party central committee members in pressing Ong to resign after the 10 Oct EGM passed a no-confidence vote against him. Liow and the committee members had opposed Ong’s call for a second EGM to decide if fresh elections should be held. (Source: MCA chief laments betrayal by friends, New Straits Times, 18 Oct 2009)

“In the name of public trust, it’s only fair that I, in my capacity as MCA president, endeavour to live up to the expectation of the people and members. We take full attention [of] the EGM results.”

Ong‘s reply on 22 Oct 2009 when asked again by reporters if he would resign as promised earlier. He said he had received a lot of encouragement from people to continue with “unfinished business” in the MCA.

Ong was speaking at a press conference at the party headquarters to announce a “unity plan”, under which he and Chua agreed to work together for the party’s sake. Ong also said he would work with Liow. Chua and Liow were also present at the press conference.

The announcement of the unity plan followed talks between Ong and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak a day earlier. As such, Ong’s proposal for fresh elections is off. (Source: Ong and Chua team up, Bernama as quoted in The Nut Graph, 22 Oct 2009)

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Filed Under: Found in Quotation Tagged With: bernama, central committee, Chua Soi Lek, extraordinary general meeting, Liow Tiong Lai, malaysian insider, MCA, MCA fresh elections, Najib Razak, Ong Tee Keat, The Nut Graph, The Star

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. siew eng says

    October 27, 2009 at 9:08 am

    I’m so waiting for Instant Cafe Theatre or Comedy Court to run away with this. Though as it looks here, it’s hilarious enough. Am bookmarking this page under “comedy”.

  2. PH Chin says

    October 27, 2009 at 1:30 pm

    Anyone can say anything he [or she] likes. The true test for a man [or woman] of integrity is “walk the talk”.

    Is he or is he not, you and I know. Does he know, that’s the question?

  3. Favin says

    October 27, 2009 at 10:45 pm

    OTK should resign!

  4. Brutus says

    October 28, 2009 at 3:10 pm

    “The outcome would be clear, the writing would be on the wall. If that happens, then my democratic principle is the whole lot [of us] will have to go, the entire presidential council.”

    Check who is on the list of presidential councils:

    http://www.mca.org.my/English/Leadership/Pages/MCAPresidentialCouncilMembers2005-2008.aspx

    Liow and his gang have betrayed Ong, clear and simple. They have all this while whispered to Ong to sideline Chua, resulting in the battle between these two formidable leaders. Now they are taking the spoils of war. In olden political days, they would have been hanged and decapitated for their betrayal.

  5. Clive says

    October 28, 2009 at 7:01 pm

    Koh lost the trust of Chinese [Malaysian] voters, and Gerakan was wiped out. Other leaders in Gerakan went down with him. The voters lost their trust in Koh because he was seen as trying to abandon Penang.

    Now Ong has shown to the entire Chinese [Malaysian] community how low he would stoop, and how shameless and untrustworthy he is. I think come the next general election, the whole MCA will be wiped out just like Gerakan was. It will not be surprising to find a 20% or 30% swing away from the MCA because of Ong’s shamelessness.

    I foresee the complete demise of the MCA if Ong is not kicked out. Everyone must come together to kick him out now. That’s the real unity plan.

  6. Clive says

    October 31, 2009 at 9:27 pm

    Koh and Ong were asked to resign by someone instructed by his master. That is a very clear hint that really must not be missed or misread.

    I don’t think that someone dared to do what he did without being instructed by his master.

    I also happen to think that is an acceptable and graceful way of conveying a message to the public and ally party without giving the impression that the someone’s master is directly meddling in the other party’s affairs.

    Ong Tee Keat and Koh Tsu Koon should know it’s time for them to depart and not to wait until the cabinet resuffle take place in November. If one cannot read between the lines, one should not be in polictics […]. It would be better off for all. Definitely the Chinese [Malaysian] community will be better off without these two disgraceful characters.

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