Tee Keat spells out his plans for MCA

"We will get down to business right away," Ong Tee Keat reportedly said within hours of his election as MCA president on Oct 18.

Some viewed his statement as a publicity stunt but Tee Keat is definitely not your typical politician. Neither is he known for indulging in ‘sycophant politics’ during his 20-odd years in active party politics.

"When I said we have to get down to work, I meant it. The following day, I started work as party president with an overall review of the MCA organisation, including looking into the operations at our party headquarters," Tee Keat said in an exclusive interview yesterday.

In his first interview with Malaysiakini conducted just five days into his presidency, Tee Keat offered numerous pointers on the direction of MCA under his leadership.

He spoke freely on party reforms, touching on a 9-point platform, including limiting the tenure of leaders, enhancing organisational effectiveness and competitiveness and the appointment of leaders to party and government posts.

On limiting the tenure of leaders, Tee Keat said, "Seniority seems to be correlated to effectiveness.

"Actually some people might buy this idea but to me, it is not absolutely correct. Seniority can no doubt be a competitive edge but if you want a senior cabinet member from whichever party to be truly effective, then seniority alone is insufficient.

"Being senior is a passport but you need also to make sure that he is articulate and can argue a case (in cabinet). Seniority is not the sole criteria, you must also be effective in the cabinet," Tee Keat stressed.

Asked if he would be reviewing the 9-point party platform introduced by his predecessor, Ong Ka Ting, the new president was non-committal, saying the project was a main bone of contention, with some perceiving it as a weapon during the March 8 general election.

"It should not be meant for electioneering. When people talk about electioneering, they are too obsessed with winning and losing."

He emphasised that it was more important to have political will and determination rather than set a specific time frame to carry out the reforms in his election manifesto.

"Setting a time frame is easy but we need to take cognisance of the challenges and problems that we may not have anticipated," he said.

"I don’t believe in the 100-day time frame which is actually just a formality. We can do it on a yearly, half yearly or quarterly basis. But we must always keep the public informed of what we are doing.

"It is not a question of how soon but how confident and determined we are," he added.

On the reform proposals to let state delegates elect their state chairperson and the direct election of the president by party members, Tee Keat said the "mechanisms" towards that direction would be triggered at the right time.

Elaborating on the need to review the MCA party organisation, a point Tee Keat had raised earlier, he pointed out that there is no single priority as several initiatives are already in place.

Describing the party headquarters as the "nerve centre" of the MCA, the president said he would look into the deployment of manpower to improve the effectiveness of party machinery.

On measures to rid the party of "phantom" members, Tee Keat stressed that "it is our duty to correct this to ensure effective membership with commitment".

Touching on his working relationship with his deputy Dr Chua Soi Lek, the president was somewhat philosophical in his reply, saying, "Sometimes we need an analogy to what we experience in life".

Asked on the possibility of his deputy, who has a tainted background being appointed to a government post, Tee Keat gave a cryptic reply, "Firstly, referring to what I wrote (in my blog), I maintain my stand because that is my belief and my core values and having said that, I need to reiterate one point."

"It has never been my intention to play (the role) of a moral policeman but I should have my own core values.

On whether his deputy should be appointed to the cabinet, he said, "I have to say it’s a bit to early to make any announcement".

He rationalised that working together meant "working for the party" and not to further individual vested interests, adding that the change of "faces" in the leadership line-up must be accompanied by changes in "leadership values".

Commenting on the relationship between MCA and Umno, Tee Keat expressed optimism that there would be changes within Umno and given the leadership changes in MCA, he predicted that the ties between the two BN partners would take on a new footing.

On political hurdles he had faced in the past, Tee Keat expressed a philosophical view, saying he had been given many "yellow cards" but the controversies associating him had always been issue-driven and did not arise from a need to push through his personal agenda.

Within his party, Tee Keat is perceived as an unorthodox politician, often labeled a ‘rebel’ or ‘lone ranger’.

He had much to say about obedience and party loyalty, referring to his experience during former president Dr Ling Liong Sik’s tenure, during which he was threatened with sacking over several sensitive issues.

"I have received a lot of brickbats in the past," he recalled.

"People tend to blur the lines of loyalty to an individual. In the 1980s through my column writings, I have been reiterating and consistently questioning whether one should be loyal to individual leaders or the party."

On talk that he was facing pressure from within the party on the appointment of party and government posts, Tee Keat replied, "Now with the mandate given to me, I need to run my party and at the same time be guided by my conscience and the party constitution.

"I have always been an active listener but it does not mean I will be influenced by lobbyists who may have their own (personal) agenda."

Tee Keat said that while party delegates had spoken through their votes, the appointment government leaders depended on other factors as well. "Of course, when I say other factors, people like to speculate.

"Our representatives (recommended for government posts) will be scrutinised, not just by me, but by the government. Before any appointment is being made, there is a process of scrutiny," he explained.

Conceding that challenges abound for the party leadership and the public will be judging its performance, Tee Keat said, "It is fair for the public to take stock of our performance."

"We are bound to face human resistance (in conducting party reforms), it is only natural. We must exercise wisdom in handling or managing such a situation but it should not be done in a hurry," he said.