New twist in MCA election campaign
Published: Oct 3, 2008 9:31 AM | Updated: Oct 3, 2008 9:32 AM
An election controversy has embroiled MCA deputy president hopeful, Donald Lim, following a widely circulated short-text messages (SMS) alleging that he had formed a secret election pact with the camp closely linked to outgoing party president Ong Ka Ting.
An election controversy has embroiled MCA deputy president hopeful, Donald Lim, following a widely circulated short-text messages (SMS) alleging that he had formed a secret election pact with the camp closely linked to outgoing party president Ong Ka Ting.
It is alleged that Lim’s decision to join the fray for the party deputy post is to ensure victory for Ka Ting’s elder brother, Ong Ka Chuan, who is also vying for MCA’s second highest post.
Lim, who last week announced his intention to contest the post against MCA secretary-general Ka Chuan and party veteran Chua Soi Lek, is expected to call a press conference on Monday to deny the allegations when he returns to the federal capital from Sabah.
According to party sources in Penang, Lim had told them that former vice-president Soi Lek - who was involved in a sex-tape scandal last year - was a “weak” candidate.
A party insider said that Lim’s decision to turn the deputy presidency into a three-cornered fight was to force Chua to go for the number one post instead.
“The negotiations between him and (Chua) Soi Lek failed after several face-to-face meetings,” he claimed, adding that Lim failed to convince Chua to go for party president.
A secret election pact?
According to the SMS allegation, Lim was part of an election pact which his political rivals insisted he had discreetly made with the faction linked to the outgoing MCA boss.
According to the alleged pact, Chua would be forced to contest of the No 1 post, while Lim would pull out from the deputy president contest at the last minute, leaving Ka Chuan to win uncontested at the party polls on Oct 18.
“In the past, such practices of horse-trading had always been part of party elections,” said a party veteran, who added that he was hardly surprised by the allegation.
“I hope it’s not true. The party should strive for a healthy political culture especially during party polls,” another delegate from Kuala Lumpur said.
In recent weeks, the campaign in the MCA polls has decidedly turned ugly with widespread circulation of cartoon caricatures and poison-pen SMSes to delegates nationwide.
The past weeks also saw the unveiling of party election manifestoes by hopeful presidential candidates, Ong Tee Keat and Chua Jui Meng.
When contacted by Malaysiakini, Lim denied the allegations, saying he would be calling a press conference to refute such vicious claims.
The latest episode underscored the heated campaigning which had erupted as the party enters the last lap of the election campaign.
Nominations for the party election is on Oct 13, while polling day is on Oct 18.
It is alleged that Lim’s decision to join the fray for the party deputy post is to ensure victory for Ka Ting’s elder brother, Ong Ka Chuan, who is also vying for MCA’s second highest post.
Lim, who last week announced his intention to contest the post against MCA secretary-general Ka Chuan and party veteran Chua Soi Lek, is expected to call a press conference on Monday to deny the allegations when he returns to the federal capital from Sabah.According to party sources in Penang, Lim had told them that former vice-president Soi Lek - who was involved in a sex-tape scandal last year - was a “weak” candidate.
A party insider said that Lim’s decision to turn the deputy presidency into a three-cornered fight was to force Chua to go for the number one post instead.
“The negotiations between him and (Chua) Soi Lek failed after several face-to-face meetings,” he claimed, adding that Lim failed to convince Chua to go for party president.
A secret election pact?
According to the SMS allegation, Lim was part of an election pact which his political rivals insisted he had discreetly made with the faction linked to the outgoing MCA boss.
According to the alleged pact, Chua would be forced to contest of the No 1 post, while Lim would pull out from the deputy president contest at the last minute, leaving Ka Chuan to win uncontested at the party polls on Oct 18.
“In the past, such practices of horse-trading had always been part of party elections,” said a party veteran, who added that he was hardly surprised by the allegation.
“I hope it’s not true. The party should strive for a healthy political culture especially during party polls,” another delegate from Kuala Lumpur said.
In recent weeks, the campaign in the MCA polls has decidedly turned ugly with widespread circulation of cartoon caricatures and poison-pen SMSes to delegates nationwide.
The past weeks also saw the unveiling of party election manifestoes by hopeful presidential candidates, Ong Tee Keat and Chua Jui Meng.
When contacted by Malaysiakini, Lim denied the allegations, saying he would be calling a press conference to refute such vicious claims.
The latest episode underscored the heated campaigning which had erupted as the party enters the last lap of the election campaign.
Nominations for the party election is on Oct 13, while polling day is on Oct 18.
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