Ong a 'closed-door Umno-bashing hero'

There is more than one way to skin a cat. Similarly, there are more than one way for MCA to deal with Umno, as former MCA deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek puts it.

According to Chua (left), MCA president Ong Tee Keat prefers a more confrontational approach when dealing with Umno, the lynchpin of Barisan Nasional coalition since its inception in 1973.

"He (Ong) has been indulging in closed-door Umno bashing. I have openly challenged him not to do this. Be brave to say: ‘I, Ong Tee Keat, is the only MCA president brave enough to defy the prime minister and deputy prime minister'.

"But he never took up my challenge and that is why he hates me for that... Don't be a hero to your own members behind closed doors. It doesn't serve any purpose. Whether he likes it or not, he is part of the coalition partner in BN," said Chua.

Speaking to Malaysiakini during an exclusive interview, Chua said his emphasis was towards garnering support for BN because that is the common platform which MCA candidates stand on during elections.

For the coalition to thrive, MCA must then forge strong ties within the BN coalition, including Umno, said Chua.

"One must accept that the head of BN comes from Umno and the majority of cabinet members are from Umno. It is up to you how you want to work with them.

"There is so many ways to skin a cat. Any method should yield results. It should not damage the image of BN," he said.

'If my team lose, I walk'

On whether there is still room for reconciliation with Ong, Chua ruled it out but appears open to any ‘peace plan' that involves both of them bowing out of politics.

Chua said that he will accept to any peace plan to bring stability to the party, on condition that his party membership be restored first.

For now, Chua's focus is on the upcoming extraordinary general meeting where his supporters and Ong's opponents hope to reinstate him as deputy president and pass a vote of no-confidence against the party president.

"If my team loses, I walk. Simple as that," said Chua, who is confident that the delegates would vote his way.

On his relationship with party president, Chua said he was hardly on talking terms with Ong and that the latter had attacked him just one week after the October party elections.

Chua also insisted that Ong had gone across the country smearing his reputation, adding that he was being "exiled" by the party.

"When he was in Sabah, he openly told five division chiefs that ‘Chua Soi Lek is a dog and I will use the disciplinary board to chop off his head'.

He said that many times. These people have come forward in the Chinese papers," he said.

True to his word, Chua was sacked from the party on Aug 26 after the party leadership endorsed the disciplinary board's findings and found him guilty of tarnishing the party image by being involved in a DVD sex scandal.

‘I didn't tape myself'

Asked why he decided to continue to pursue his political career despite the scandal, Chua said that he was still capable of contributing to the party and this was reflected when he was elected deputy president last October.

"Somebody taped me. I didn't tape myself. If I taped myself and it leaks out, I should go off. Nobody is talking about the person who taped me and why he taped me. Why?

"Are we going to have this political culture where we film their secret life, or trap them (to destroy political enemies)," asked Chua.

On his post as BN coordinator in four Pakatan Rakayat held states, Chua said he is still holding on to the post, but has not performed his duties since being sacked.

"That is the root of my problem. After my appointment, there was a lot of grumbling that he as the MCA president cannot call component parties for meeting but the deputy could.

"He felt threatened. He said I made many promises during my meetings, but you can ask Umno and MIC members I have met and ask them if I have promised them anything. Nothing!" he said.

"I only chair meetings to see what were the problems (they faced). What needs the central leadership's attention. Nobody is looking after them because they are an opposition state.

"I haven't been able to do my work well. Barely two months, they chop off my head," he added.

Q&A: Too late to patch up with Ong

Part 1
Chua: 'Ong spooked by his own shadow'
Q&A: We shall prevail, says Chua