Quit now, Ah Lek tells Soi Lek
Patrick SenyahPublished: May 8, 2013 9:59 AM | Updated: May 8, 2013 10:06 AM
Saying that the "Chinese tsunami" in the general election was not against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak but against the MCA and its leadership, former party stalwart Lim Ah Lek has called for the resignation of Dr Chua Soi Lek.
Saying that the "Chinese tsunami" in the general election was not against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak but against the MCA and its leadership, former party stalwart Lim Ah Lek has called for the resignation of Dr Chua Soi Lek.
Lim (left), who was also the party deputy president from 1996 to 2003, stressed that the unhappiness of the Chinese community, which was expressed in the elections, was a culmination of numerous factors and had nothing to do with Najib or his leadership.
"Najib has personally gone out of his way and done a lot for the community over the years... I know this personally," he said.
"As the party president, Chua must accept full responsibility for the party's poor showing and step down immediately.
"I know he is not going to seek re-election at the party's AGM later this year, but that is not enough. He must step down now."
The MCA contested 37 parliamentary seats and 90 state seats. It won seven and 11.
Lim, who has never attended a party AGM since Chua became its president, said the Chinese were calling for change and Chua should heed this call and make way for new blood.
"I can forgive him for his indiscretion but I can never respect him as a party leader," he said.
He stressed that the Chinese community were, overall, happy with Najib's leadership, but not with Chua.
Lim was also the human resources minister from 1989 to 1999 and Pahang state executive councillor from 1974 to 1989.
‘Leader with principles would have resigned’
Echoing Lim's call yesterday were three MCA division chiefs from Selangor, who urged Chua to resign immediately and take full responsibility for the MCA's poor performance.
Tan Chong Seng (Kuala Selangor), Lee Wei Keat (Subang) and Liew Yuen Keong (Serdang) said in a joint statement that Chua had only appointed those loyal to him as candidates while squeezing out dissidents and not allowing them to vote.
"He also provided far-fetched reasons for the party's poor showing and adopted the wrong strategies, resulting in MCA vote canvassers facing ridicule and criticisms from the Chinese community," the statement added.
"Our troops have fallen like a hill. The president blamed it on the Chinese believing the DAP's 'Ubah' slogan, causing a 'two-race system'.
"He is shirking his responsibility. There was no introspection. He did not ask why the Chinese abandoned MCA."
Former MCA disciplinary board deputy chairperson Chan Tse Yuen (left) said any leader with principles would have resigned.
"Penang BN chief Teng Chang Yeow immediately resigned. This is the mark of a leader worthy of praise," he said.
He warned that if the "disease" was not treated, the party would suffer even worse consequences.
Former deputy higher education minister Saifuddin Abdullah, who lost his Temerloh parliamentary seat, also said the Chinese were not anti-Malay but merely wanted the MCA to learn a lesson.
"I do not fault them ... that is their right,'' he said.
Former New Straits Times Group editor-in-chief (1988- 2000) A Kadir Jasin said in his blog that he agreed with debaters who asserted that the election results were not a “Chinese tsunami” given that fact that the BN’s performance had also worsened in Malay-majority states such as Terengganu.
- The Malay Mail
Lim (left), who was also the party deputy president from 1996 to 2003, stressed that the unhappiness of the Chinese community, which was expressed in the elections, was a culmination of numerous factors and had nothing to do with Najib or his leadership."Najib has personally gone out of his way and done a lot for the community over the years... I know this personally," he said.
"As the party president, Chua must accept full responsibility for the party's poor showing and step down immediately.
"I know he is not going to seek re-election at the party's AGM later this year, but that is not enough. He must step down now."
The MCA contested 37 parliamentary seats and 90 state seats. It won seven and 11.
Lim, who has never attended a party AGM since Chua became its president, said the Chinese were calling for change and Chua should heed this call and make way for new blood.
"I can forgive him for his indiscretion but I can never respect him as a party leader," he said.He stressed that the Chinese community were, overall, happy with Najib's leadership, but not with Chua.
Lim was also the human resources minister from 1989 to 1999 and Pahang state executive councillor from 1974 to 1989.
‘Leader with principles would have resigned’
Echoing Lim's call yesterday were three MCA division chiefs from Selangor, who urged Chua to resign immediately and take full responsibility for the MCA's poor performance.
Tan Chong Seng (Kuala Selangor), Lee Wei Keat (Subang) and Liew Yuen Keong (Serdang) said in a joint statement that Chua had only appointed those loyal to him as candidates while squeezing out dissidents and not allowing them to vote.
"He also provided far-fetched reasons for the party's poor showing and adopted the wrong strategies, resulting in MCA vote canvassers facing ridicule and criticisms from the Chinese community," the statement added.
"Our troops have fallen like a hill. The president blamed it on the Chinese believing the DAP's 'Ubah' slogan, causing a 'two-race system'.
"He is shirking his responsibility. There was no introspection. He did not ask why the Chinese abandoned MCA."Former MCA disciplinary board deputy chairperson Chan Tse Yuen (left) said any leader with principles would have resigned.
"Penang BN chief Teng Chang Yeow immediately resigned. This is the mark of a leader worthy of praise," he said.
He warned that if the "disease" was not treated, the party would suffer even worse consequences.
Former deputy higher education minister Saifuddin Abdullah, who lost his Temerloh parliamentary seat, also said the Chinese were not anti-Malay but merely wanted the MCA to learn a lesson.
"I do not fault them ... that is their right,'' he said.
Former New Straits Times Group editor-in-chief (1988- 2000) A Kadir Jasin said in his blog that he agreed with debaters who asserted that the election results were not a “Chinese tsunami” given that fact that the BN’s performance had also worsened in Malay-majority states such as Terengganu.
- The Malay Mail
View Comments0