Soi Lek back as Johor MCA chief
Published: Nov 19, 2009 4:55 PM | Updated: Nov 19, 2009 4:56 PM
Amidst discontent over the removal of several opponents from the MCA presidential council, president Ong Tee Keat's power play continued today with the reinstatement of Dr Chua Soi Lek as the Johor MCA liaison chief.
Amidst discontent over the removal of several opponents from the MCA presidential council, president Ong Tee Keat's power play continued today with the reinstatement of Dr Chua Soi Lek as the Johor MCA liaison chief.
Chua vacated the post in January last year, forced out by his sex DVD scandal and was replaced by then-president Ong Ka Ting followed by Tee Keat in August last year.
After being elected deputy president last October, Chua was once again sidelined by new president Tee Keat.
Now that Tee Keat and Chua had buried the hatchet, there was widespread speculation that the latter was eyeing the Johor chief post in earnest.
Johor is MCA's only stronghold left, producing seven MCA MPs during last year's March general election, out of which three were made deputy ministers.
Chua's reinstatement to his old post was announced through Tee Keat in a posting on his blog today, which also emphasised that he was now able to work with his estranged deputy.
In a related development, Tee Keat's blog entry also explained why he had reshuffled his presidential council yesterday, which has stirred discontent among vice-president Liow Tiong Lai's supporters.
Yesterday, Tee Keat dropped Youth chief Wee Ka Siong and Women's chief Chew Mei Fun from the line up, along with seven others, from the presidential council.
Wee and Chew broke into tears at a press conference after that, accusing Tee Keat of creating a council of yes men.
Tee Keat explains ‘axing'
Commenting on this, Tee Keat said the reshuffle was the result of the implementation of the ‘greater unity plan' he had put forth.
"With this, I need a team that is 100 percent behind the effort to bring back unity to the MCA in time for the next general election," he wrote on his blog.
To achieve this, Tee Keat said he had reorganised positions based on the necessary skill sets and experience to implement the unity plan.
"We can ill-afford to have leaders who are against the GUP - much less, those out to derail a plan which had received the blessings of the Prime Minister - to be in the MCA Presidential Council".
He reiterated that it was unfair to claim that the Youth and Women's wings had been sidelined, saying that the respective leaders would be invited to speak before the presidential council.
Chua vacated the post in January last year, forced out by his sex DVD scandal and was replaced by then-president Ong Ka Ting followed by Tee Keat in August last year.After being elected deputy president last October, Chua was once again sidelined by new president Tee Keat.
Now that Tee Keat and Chua had buried the hatchet, there was widespread speculation that the latter was eyeing the Johor chief post in earnest.
Johor is MCA's only stronghold left, producing seven MCA MPs during last year's March general election, out of which three were made deputy ministers.
Chua's reinstatement to his old post was announced through Tee Keat in a posting on his blog today, which also emphasised that he was now able to work with his estranged deputy.
In a related development, Tee Keat's blog entry also explained why he had reshuffled his presidential council yesterday, which has stirred discontent among vice-president Liow Tiong Lai's supporters.
Yesterday, Tee Keat dropped Youth chief Wee Ka Siong and Women's chief Chew Mei Fun from the line up, along with seven others, from the presidential council.
Wee and Chew broke into tears at a press conference after that, accusing Tee Keat of creating a council of yes men.
Tee Keat explains ‘axing'
Commenting on this, Tee Keat said the reshuffle was the result of the implementation of the ‘greater unity plan' he had put forth.
"With this, I need a team that is 100 percent behind the effort to bring back unity to the MCA in time for the next general election," he wrote on his blog.
To achieve this, Tee Keat said he had reorganised positions based on the necessary skill sets and experience to implement the unity plan.
"We can ill-afford to have leaders who are against the GUP - much less, those out to derail a plan which had received the blessings of the Prime Minister - to be in the MCA Presidential Council".
He reiterated that it was unfair to claim that the Youth and Women's wings had been sidelined, saying that the respective leaders would be invited to speak before the presidential council.
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