Do or die in MCA polls
Yong Kai PingPublished: Mar 27, 2010 11:40 AM | Updated: Mar 29, 2010 1:44 AM
The stakes could not be higher in tomorrow’s MCA polls. The vote to be cast by the 2,378 central delegates will not only determine the survival of the party but also the political future of three equally controversial MCA politician as well as a dozen of cabinet posts.
For BN, the much-needed revival of MCA is crucial to help add substance to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s 1Malaysia agenda to woo the Chinese community which has turned into hardcore opposition supporters since the last general elections...
The stakes could not be higher in tomorrow’s MCA polls. The vote to be cast by the 2,378 central delegates will not only determine the survival of the party but also the political future of three equally controversial MCA politician as well as a dozen of cabinet posts.
For BN, the much-needed revival of MCA is crucial to help add substance to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s 1Malaysia agenda to woo the Chinese community which has turned into hardcore opposition supporters since the last general elections.
Najib had been striving to win back Chinese support on his own, bypassing MCA on several occasions but the results remain intangible.
MCA suffered its worst electoral outing two years ago when it won only 15 parliament seats and 31 state seats out of the 40 and 90 it contested respectively.
Instead of resuscitating the party, outgoing president Ong Tee Keat and his deputy Chua Soi Lek had been locked in intense party infighting lasting for over a year, creating much drama.
The sudden return of former president Ong Ka Ting not only created history where retiring top party leaders are rarely called upon to do a second round of duty, it also sparked claims that he is the mastermind behind the fierce encounters between Tee Keat and Soi Lek.
Three controversial leaders
The three contestants for the number one post - Tee Keat, Ka Ting and Soi Lek - have had a fair share of controversies of their own.
Tee Keat is said to be a temperamental lone ranger, lacking in organisational skills and regarded as a loose cannon by the BN as he constantly exposed the corpse of the multi-billion PKFZ scandal.
But according to a survey by independent pollster, Merdeka Centre, he is the most popular MCA leader of the three, gaining the support of 34 percent of those surveyed.
Thus, he has been claiming that his reform agenda that ruffled the feathers of the old warlords in the party is the only way to revive the party’s fortunes in the coming general elections.
As Tee Keat’s chance of defending his post looks dim, the result of the Merdeka Centre survey could again prove that there is a deep gulf between the party and the community it is supposed to represent.
Ka Ting’s is the opposite of Tee Keat. As a former president Ling Liong Sik protégée, he has crafted an extensive network consisting of the Chinese media, business tycoons as well as guilds and associations.
He is known for his organisational skill in pleasing the warring factions and looks like the safest bet.
However, he is extremely unpopular among the Chinese constituents and independent opinion shapers view him as being subservient to Umno and extremely hypocritical in portraying himself as an obedient student of Confucius and devout Buddhist.
His previous action in infiltrating the Chinese guilds and associations as well as manipulating the Chinese media, especially in assisting timber tycoon Tiong Hiew King in the notorious takeover of Nanyang Press Holding earned him no love among intellectuals.
Ka Ting has been banking on his experience in reuniting the party to prove that he is the best candidate.
Under siege from sex DVD scandal
Soi Lek is a totally different brand of leader compared to his two opponents. He is a seasoned politician, a plain speaking one who despises spin and places stress on delivery and results.
He has managed to garner support from veteran MCA grassroots leaders, who still command considerate influence, and who have felt unfairly marginalised during the five-year rein of Ka Ting.
In fact, one of the main causes for the defeat in the last general elections was Ka Ting’s drastic decision to replace the old faces with young Turks aligned to him.
The only issues that will dog Soi Lek, which may stop him from reaching the very top echelon in the party, will be his sex DVD scandal exposed two years ago.
Recently his detractors have been hitting hard at his soft spot with unrelenting attacks from women’s groups and former MCA deputy president Lim Ah Lek.
Police reports against the sex DVD were even found stuck on MPs’ car windscreens after last week’s parliamentary session.
Soi Lek’s supporters have been campaigning on the platform that since his two opponents have failed to lead MCA out of the woods, he should be given a chance to prove himself.
In another words, they said his ability to lead is more important than morality.
Tee Keat the spoiler
Judging from the feedback from the ground, Soi Lek and Ka Ting are locked in a neck-and-neck fight with Tee Keat tipped to be the possible spoiler. The winning majority is expected to be around 150 to 200 votes.
Soi Lek’s hardcore supporters remain unperturbed by all the allegations of money politics and sex DVD scandal thrown at him with his support level remaining steady at around 1,000 and 1,100 votes.
If Tee Keat’s low-key campaign could generate 300 or so sympathy votes, the return of Ka Ting may be stopped on its track as his people are confident of harvesting only about 900 votes.
Whoever the winner, barring any last-minute surprises, he will only enjoy a wafer-thin majority rather than a conclusive result.
With that, it will again kick off another wrenching party struggle after the current term ends in one and a half years’ time.
Already the record-breaking 106 contestants is testimony of MCA leaders’ view that tomorrow’s election is merely a midway war to the next party polls and a stepping stone to securing nomination to contest the general elections.
Three ministers may fall
However, if Ka Ting and his team emerge triumphant albeit with a slim majority, it will be at the expense of at least three cabinet ministers - Tee Keat, Kong Cho Ha and Ng Yen Yen.
If Soi Lek’s camp is victorious, then at least two ministers - Tee Keat and Liow Tiong Lai - will be booted out. The third scenario of Tee Keat’s surprise win will still see at least one minister bowing out.
The result of Sunday’s poll will provide the opportunity for a minor cabinet reshuffle in April.
There is already a strong rumour going around that powerful cabinet posts such as the Transport Ministry which involved the PKFZ scandal will go to Umno, while MCA will be given a junior ministry.
Whatever the outcome, the final result will be an even more marginalised MCA within the BN government.
For BN, the much-needed revival of MCA is crucial to help add substance to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s 1Malaysia agenda to woo the Chinese community which has turned into hardcore opposition supporters since the last general elections.
Najib had been striving to win back Chinese support on his own, bypassing MCA on several occasions but the results remain intangible.
MCA suffered its worst electoral outing two years ago when it won only 15 parliament seats and 31 state seats out of the 40 and 90 it contested respectively.
Instead of resuscitating the party, outgoing president Ong Tee Keat and his deputy Chua Soi Lek had been locked in intense party infighting lasting for over a year, creating much drama.
The sudden return of former president Ong Ka Ting not only created history where retiring top party leaders are rarely called upon to do a second round of duty, it also sparked claims that he is the mastermind behind the fierce encounters between Tee Keat and Soi Lek.
Three controversial leaders
The three contestants for the number one post - Tee Keat, Ka Ting and Soi Lek - have had a fair share of controversies of their own.
Tee Keat is said to be a temperamental lone ranger, lacking in organisational skills and regarded as a loose cannon by the BN as he constantly exposed the corpse of the multi-billion PKFZ scandal.But according to a survey by independent pollster, Merdeka Centre, he is the most popular MCA leader of the three, gaining the support of 34 percent of those surveyed.
Thus, he has been claiming that his reform agenda that ruffled the feathers of the old warlords in the party is the only way to revive the party’s fortunes in the coming general elections.
As Tee Keat’s chance of defending his post looks dim, the result of the Merdeka Centre survey could again prove that there is a deep gulf between the party and the community it is supposed to represent.
Ka Ting’s is the opposite of Tee Keat. As a former president Ling Liong Sik protégée, he has crafted an extensive network consisting of the Chinese media, business tycoons as well as guilds and associations.He is known for his organisational skill in pleasing the warring factions and looks like the safest bet.
However, he is extremely unpopular among the Chinese constituents and independent opinion shapers view him as being subservient to Umno and extremely hypocritical in portraying himself as an obedient student of Confucius and devout Buddhist.
His previous action in infiltrating the Chinese guilds and associations as well as manipulating the Chinese media, especially in assisting timber tycoon Tiong Hiew King in the notorious takeover of Nanyang Press Holding earned him no love among intellectuals.
Ka Ting has been banking on his experience in reuniting the party to prove that he is the best candidate.
Under siege from sex DVD scandal
Soi Lek is a totally different brand of leader compared to his two opponents. He is a seasoned politician, a plain speaking one who despises spin and places stress on delivery and results.
He has managed to garner support from veteran MCA grassroots leaders, who still command considerate influence, and who have felt unfairly marginalised during the five-year rein of Ka Ting.
In fact, one of the main causes for the defeat in the last general elections was Ka Ting’s drastic decision to replace the old faces with young Turks aligned to him. The only issues that will dog Soi Lek, which may stop him from reaching the very top echelon in the party, will be his sex DVD scandal exposed two years ago.
Recently his detractors have been hitting hard at his soft spot with unrelenting attacks from women’s groups and former MCA deputy president Lim Ah Lek.
Police reports against the sex DVD were even found stuck on MPs’ car windscreens after last week’s parliamentary session.
Soi Lek’s supporters have been campaigning on the platform that since his two opponents have failed to lead MCA out of the woods, he should be given a chance to prove himself.
In another words, they said his ability to lead is more important than morality.
Tee Keat the spoiler
Judging from the feedback from the ground, Soi Lek and Ka Ting are locked in a neck-and-neck fight with Tee Keat tipped to be the possible spoiler. The winning majority is expected to be around 150 to 200 votes.
Soi Lek’s hardcore supporters remain unperturbed by all the allegations of money politics and sex DVD scandal thrown at him with his support level remaining steady at around 1,000 and 1,100 votes. If Tee Keat’s low-key campaign could generate 300 or so sympathy votes, the return of Ka Ting may be stopped on its track as his people are confident of harvesting only about 900 votes.
Whoever the winner, barring any last-minute surprises, he will only enjoy a wafer-thin majority rather than a conclusive result.
With that, it will again kick off another wrenching party struggle after the current term ends in one and a half years’ time.
Already the record-breaking 106 contestants is testimony of MCA leaders’ view that tomorrow’s election is merely a midway war to the next party polls and a stepping stone to securing nomination to contest the general elections.
Three ministers may fall
However, if Ka Ting and his team emerge triumphant albeit with a slim majority, it will be at the expense of at least three cabinet ministers - Tee Keat, Kong Cho Ha and Ng Yen Yen.
If Soi Lek’s camp is victorious, then at least two ministers - Tee Keat and Liow Tiong Lai - will be booted out. The third scenario of Tee Keat’s surprise win will still see at least one minister bowing out.
The result of Sunday’s poll will provide the opportunity for a minor cabinet reshuffle in April.
There is already a strong rumour going around that powerful cabinet posts such as the Transport Ministry which involved the PKFZ scandal will go to Umno, while MCA will be given a junior ministry.
Whatever the outcome, the final result will be an even more marginalised MCA within the BN government.
View Comments0