MCA presidential challenger Chua Jui Meng's campaign in Sabah early this week ran into difficulties following reports that MCA division leaders in the state were being pressured not to meet him.

Chua arrived in Sabah on July 5 for a three-day campaign trip. The state is his first stop after he declared his intention to contest the MCA presidency last Friday. He is involved in a straight fight with incumbent Ong Ka Ting.

A senior aide of Chua told malaysiakini that he received numerous complaints that division chiefs were under heavy pressure not to meet with Chua. It was said the directive came from MCA Sabah liaison committee chairperson Edward Khoo.

The aide claimed that division leaders were being threatened with disciplinary action if they went ahead with their plan to meet the former health minister.

As a result, seven or eight divisions had cancelled their meetings with the presidential contender but Chua still managed to meet leaders of 15 divisions. Sabah has a total of 25 divisions and will be represented by 114 delegates at the party assembly next month.

According to the aide, some division leaders also claimed that they were misled to support the incumbent president.

"Some said they were only informed to attend the last state MCA meeting with the sole purpose of declaring their support for Khoo to contest a central committee member's post. It was only at the meeting that they were told to also pledge their support for Ong," he said.

Two division chiefs who were also interested to contest for a seat in the central committee - Kota Kinabalu division chief Chau Tet On and Tawau division chief Charlie Chang - as well as another three division chiefs were absent from the meeting.

Free to campaign

The day after Chua announced his challenge, Sabah MCA together with those from Penang, Perak, Pahang, Selangor and Kelantan openly declared their support for Ong.

Together with three division chiefs and 50 party members, Chau received Chua at the Kota Kinabalu Airport. Chau was quoted as saying in a local Chinese daily then that all contestants for party posts must be fairly treated and they should have equal opportunity to campaign.

"Campaign during an election is permitted. So what is wrong if contenders want to meet new division chiefs and central delegates?"

However, Khoo denied the allegations of misleading division chiefs and directing them not to meet Chua.

"This is a free world, they can say whatever they want. I will be very busy if I were to respond to every statement made against me," he said when contacted.

Commenting on the open declaration of support for Ong, Chua's aide revealed that many grassroots leaders were not happy with such a culture as it borders on forcing people to do it and threatening those who oppose it.

On Chua's manifesto which will be unveiled by the challenger in Kuala Lumpur today, the aide said that it will be full of 'surprises'.

"It will be about his reform plans for the party and will answer many questions being sought by party members," he added.

On rumours that Chua will team up with MCA secretary-general Ting Chew Peh who is said to be keen on the deputy president's post, he responded, "Chua has stated, will you reject someone who wants to support you?".