Four tricky hurdles for Chua

new analysis Politics have been nothing short of a roller-coaster ride for MCA’s Dr Chua Soi Lek, who has experienced some dark days in recent years.

Last Sunday, though, proved the brightest of days as he crested the peak of his career to become party president.

In January 2008, though, Chua had hit an all-time low when the scandal over his sex video broke out. If the public humiliation for him and his family was not enough, he lost everything politically.

Ten months later, he had miraculously clawed his way up the ranks to be elected deputy president - only to be sacked from the post last August.

All but written off by then, he initiated a few clever moves which eventually led him to the helm of the party.

But now, new challenges await in what will be a short-lived tenure ahead - only up to the party polls next year. Any fatal mistake will see him voted out.

Legitimacy to rule effectively will be Chua’s first challenge. He only garnered 38 percent of the votes. Slightly over half of the newly-elected central committee cling to factions led by his rivals.

Moreover, Chua’s bitter campaign rival Liow Tiong Lai, who was elected deputy president, has the loyalty of the majority of party leaders holding the posts of minister or deputy minister.

Liow, who is Health Minister, has the support of Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong, Deputy Finance Minister Chor Chee Hueng, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Wee Jeck Seng and Deputy Higher Education Minister Hou Kok Chung.

The only heavyweight in Chua’s camp is Ng Yen Yen, the Tourism Minister. She retained her vice-president’s post with the highest number of votes.

Chua is expected to boost his ranks by winning support from those aligned to deposed president Ong Tee Keat, such as Gan Ping Sieu and central committee members Heng Seai Kie, Lee Chee Leong and Tee Lian Ker.

Heng and Lee will be crucial recruits because the former is the deputy information minister and the latter is deputy foreign minister.

Chua may also try to woo newly-elected vice-president Donald Lim, who appears to be relatively neutral.

His second challenge will be the distribution of resources such as ministerial posts, key party posts and the chairmanship of state liasion committees.

Handled well, this will be the main factor in the reconciliation efforts.

Of outmost urgency is for Chua to appoint a new secretary-general to administer the party. His running mate Kong Cho Ha, who failed to win the deputy presidency, is increasingly a likely candidate.

Chua will be closely watched to see if he will place his Tee Yong (right) in any important post - should he do so, he can expect a round of condemnation for nepotism.

Tee Yong’s appointment to the party’s central committee had raised eyebrows last year, following a truce between his father and Tee Keat.

Toughest challenge yet

The third challenge will no doubt be the Port Klang Free Zone scandal. Probing the multi-billion ringgit loss making project was Tee Keat’s preoccupation as transport minister.

With Tee Keat almost certain to lose his minister’s post, Chua will have to find a replacement who will inherit the PKFZ probe - a political hot potato because of the large sum of taxpayers’ money being involved.

Tee Keat had won plenty of public goodwill for MCA because of his zeal in getting down to the bottom of the PKFZ scandal. It would be foolhardy for Chua to apply the brakes now.

The final key challenge for Chua - and perhaps the hardest to conquer - is to repair the damage done to his public image because of his adultery.

His infidelity has upset the conservatives in the party and among the public. How will he win them over, particularly since his return to active politics indicates that he is also prepared to contest the next general election where he will be fair game for opposition-generated barbs.

Almost immediately after the party elections, a lawyer for Anwar Ibrahim drew first blood  by questioning the attorney-general’s (AG) apparent indifference to charging Chua with a sex offence.

Although the intention was to prod the AG into dropping the sodomy charge against Anwar, such jibes will be a liability to Chua. These will linger in the public mind just when he wants everyone to forget the footage on the sex tape.

He can expect even more attacks on his morality and character in the run-up to the Hulu Selangor by-election.

For now, opponents in MCA may give him breathing space - but only because many are lethargic from being battered about during eight months of the intra-party feud.

But Chua can expect a busy time overcoming his problems - or at least papering over the cracks - in the coming year.