Chua sacked as Kedah state chief

Party president Dr Ling Liong Sik told a press conference after a central committee meeting that Kedah state secretary Beh Heng Seong will now act as the state chief.

However, Ling did not state any reasons for Chua's removal, saying that the party constitution does not require him to do so.

"The constitution does not require me to give any reason. I chose to remain silent," said Ling who is also the transport minister.

Ling also announced that party vice-president Ong Ka Ting, known to be his protege, had relinquished his post as Johor deputy chairperson and given way to the state's vice-chairperson Chua Sooi Lek.

In addition, he said, the party headquarters' chief administrative director Lim Si Cheng also chose to relinquish this post and was replaced by Negeri Sembilan MCA chief Wong See Wah. Lim is also Johor MCA secretary and Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker.

Political murder

Later, at another press conference, Chua said he would respect Ling's constitutional right as the party president to appoint or sack any state chairperson but added that his removal was an obvious attempt to "kill him politically".

Chua who is also the health minister, congratulated his replacement Beh in Kedah MCA and stressed that he would remain good friends with all members in the state.

He said he was not surprised by the sacking, adding that he was "prepared to face any consequence" from the day he joined party deputy president Lim Ah Lek and six other CC members to oppose the Nanyang takeover.

The six CC members, who were present this afternoon to voice support for Chua, were party vice-president Chan Kong Choy, Youth chief Ong Tee Keat, members Fu Ah Kiow, Wong Mook Leong, Dr Tang See Hang and Tan Yee Kew.

In May, MCA's investment arm Huaren Holdings acquired two Chinese dailies Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press for RM230 million, leading to public outcry from the ethnic Chinese, and party factions revealing a clear stand on the issue.

An extraordinary general meeting was subsequently called on June 24 to resolve the controversial deal and saw a tissue-thin majority voting for the controversial RM230 million deal.

Asked if the opposing camp will field candidates to challenge Ling and his supporters in the next party elections, Chua said, "We shall see about that."

President's revenge

Meanwhile, party deputy Lim Ah Lek said the removal of Chua from his state chair was "a revenge by the president to eliminate people who disagreed with him".

Lim said the party president broke his promise after the June 24 EGM that no one will be a victim of any purge and all party leaders should close ranks.

He had asked for an explanation of Chua's removal at the central committee meeting but the party president declined to provide any, he added.

"He should have kept his word and not practise an autocratic culture within MCA by ousting leaders who disagreed with him," said Lim.

He warned of a worsening split within the party following Chua's removal from his state post.

Party Youth chief Ong however denied that this was similar to the sacking of a Youth central committee recently.

Last week, MCA Youth organising secretary Han Chin Peng was dismissed on the grounds that he was allegedly responsible for the fracas at the wing's annual general meeting early August which saw flying chairs, a bomb scare and the sacking of two Youth leaders.

Ong said there were valid reasons to the dismissal of Hang but added that such information could not be released to the media as ordered by party chief Ling.

"Due to the gag order, there is certain information which I had to withhold from public consumption. But I am more than willing to see the person concerned at his convenience," said Ong who is also deputy youth and sports minister.

Observers noted that the recent episodes in MCA were the prelude to the party's election by August next year. It was widely speculated that Chua had cast his eye on the party presidential post.