MCA chief denies gag order on his deputy
Lee Way LoonPublished: Jan 8, 2009 7:47 PM | Updated: Jan 8, 2009 8:04 PM
MCA president Ong Tee Keat today rejected claims that he had imposed a gag order on party leaders, specifically various bureau chiefs, by issuing a directive for all press statements to be endorsed by the presidential council before they are issued.
Ong Tee Keat rejected claims that a new directive for bureau chiefs to have all press statements endorsed by the presidential council was a gag order.
MCA president Ong Tee Keat today rejected claims that he had imposed a gag order on party leaders, specifically various bureau chiefs, by issuing a directive for all press statements to be endorsed by the presidential council before they are issued.
He said that directive issued by the presidential council last week was merely an effort for a better coordination before various comments are issued on government policies.
"Don't you think that it is only fair and professional if we have prepared a position paper before we comment on government policies?" asked Ong.
However he stressed that all MCA leaders can still comment on pressing issues as they break.
"If a doctor advices us to take food in proper way, that doesn't mean he wants us to fast," he told reporters after an event in Sunway Pyramid today.
The decision to have a prior presidential council approval was widely seen as a move by the president to silence Ong's main rival, deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek.
Chua is also the party's government policy monitoring bureau chief who had been regularly issuing press statements critical of various MCA leaders in the government, especially the Health Ministry helmed by MCA vice president Liow Tiong Lai.
Political observers believe that this ‘gag-order' was a ‘marginalisation' of Chua following the party's decision in not appointing him to any other posts, including that of leading his state Johor.
Earlier this week Malaysiakini reported that the first MCA presidential council meeting held last week had issued the directive to require all bureau chiefs to seek prior endorsement from the council before issuing press releases.
Ong also denied that the directive was specifically aimed at silencing Chua, adding that rumour-mongerers were creating controversy out of nothing.
He urged the public to be aware of such spinning and ridiculed the paranoid behaviour of his detractors.
"Only those with closed mind will speak or act based on hearsays and constantly feels under-sieged. Persecution mentality may lead to psychological sickness. It is really worrying," he said.
Non-intervention at the Star
Meanwhile, according to Bernama, Ong also refused to comment on the boardroom changes of the Star newspaper recently and said the decision was not made by the party.
"The Star is independent. We leave it to the professionals. Although Huaren Holdings (MCA's investment arm) comes under us, we only do what is completely necessary under our jurisdiction," he said.
Recently, the Star announced that its managing director and group executive deputy chairperson Steven Tan will step down in six months' time.
At the same time, veteran journalists Ng Bee Lye and Clement Hii were appointed as non-executive directors.
Certain quarters claimed that both were closely linked to Ong and were his close advisors, adding that the reshuffle would help Ong to increase his grip on the Star.
Tan was seen to be aligned to the camp of Ong's arch rival former MCA President Dr Ling Liong Sik. However he would remain as the Star's non-executive director.
He said that directive issued by the presidential council last week was merely an effort for a better coordination before various comments are issued on government policies.
"Don't you think that it is only fair and professional if we have prepared a position paper before we comment on government policies?" asked Ong.However he stressed that all MCA leaders can still comment on pressing issues as they break.
"If a doctor advices us to take food in proper way, that doesn't mean he wants us to fast," he told reporters after an event in Sunway Pyramid today.
The decision to have a prior presidential council approval was widely seen as a move by the president to silence Ong's main rival, deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek.
Chua is also the party's government policy monitoring bureau chief who had been regularly issuing press statements critical of various MCA leaders in the government, especially the Health Ministry helmed by MCA vice president Liow Tiong Lai.
Political observers believe that this ‘gag-order' was a ‘marginalisation' of Chua following the party's decision in not appointing him to any other posts, including that of leading his state Johor.
Earlier this week Malaysiakini reported that the first MCA presidential council meeting held last week had issued the directive to require all bureau chiefs to seek prior endorsement from the council before issuing press releases.
Ong also denied that the directive was specifically aimed at silencing Chua, adding that rumour-mongerers were creating controversy out of nothing.
He urged the public to be aware of such spinning and ridiculed the paranoid behaviour of his detractors.
"Only those with closed mind will speak or act based on hearsays and constantly feels under-sieged. Persecution mentality may lead to psychological sickness. It is really worrying," he said.
Non-intervention at the Star
Meanwhile, according to Bernama, Ong also refused to comment on the boardroom changes of the Star newspaper recently and said the decision was not made by the party.
"The Star is independent. We leave it to the professionals. Although Huaren Holdings (MCA's investment arm) comes under us, we only do what is completely necessary under our jurisdiction," he said.Recently, the Star announced that its managing director and group executive deputy chairperson Steven Tan will step down in six months' time.
At the same time, veteran journalists Ng Bee Lye and Clement Hii were appointed as non-executive directors.
Certain quarters claimed that both were closely linked to Ong and were his close advisors, adding that the reshuffle would help Ong to increase his grip on the Star.
Tan was seen to be aligned to the camp of Ong's arch rival former MCA President Dr Ling Liong Sik. However he would remain as the Star's non-executive director.
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