PETALING JAYA, Aug 5 — Despite a public announcement that he would not seek another term as the party chief, recent events in the MCA have indicated that Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek may seek re-election in the December party elections.

Sources close to Dr Chua have indicated that he was almost sure for go for it as the party president felt he still had the support to pull it off.

“Although he did say he will not contest, the personal attacks on him are just overwhelming. He may change his mind just to prove a point to his detractors,” said a senior party leader yesterday.

“It looks like he wants to give a real fight to anyone who wants the position.”

Following the party’s dismal performance in the general election, Dr Chua issued a statement on May 6 that he would not seek another term in office as the party chief.

“I have decided that I will not seek re-election in the upcoming party elections,” he had said then.

MCA only won seven out of 37 parliamentary seats it contested.

However the turn of events had not taken Dr Chua’s rivals by surprise as many seemed to expect it.

The party elders had also conveyed their opinion on the matter, saying they were sure Dr Chua would stand for re-election as they believed he still had some unfinished business in the party.

Possibly as a prelude for Dr Chua’s expected announcement that he will re-contest, MCA divisions in Kedah and Selangor have built up the momentum for it.

On Saturday, 14 of the 15 divisions in Kedah declared their support for Dr Chua, and on Sunday, 16 of the 22 Selangor divisions did the same.

The divisions also took a jibe at Dr Chua’s main nemesis, party deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

Liow had previously declared that he would be going for the party chief post in the December 22 party elections.

The Kedah divisions said Liow should not escape blame for the party’s worst-ever showing in the general election.

Referring to the recent effort to oust Dr Chua from the presidency, the group pointed out that Liow was put in charge of the MCA’s efforts in the general election.

“The president is not the only person who should be responsible for MCA’s electoral defeat,” said one of them.

As the party’s second-in-command, Liow should also be held accountable,” he said.

“If the president’s head should roll due to the electoral defeat, Liow should also quit his party post,” he said.

In Klang, the 16 Selangor divisions urged all loyal leaders and members to stop attacking Dr Chua and let him carry out his work until his term expires.

In a conciliatory move, Klang MCA division chairman Datuk Teh Kim Poo appealed to the president’s supporters to stop all the counter-attacks as it could worsen the party’s situation.

“We should all work on gaining back the people’s support and not fight among ourselves. Just let him finish his work,” he said.

“Why are certain leaders and members are calling for the president to resign? We have only four months left, why can’t we wait? These leaders and members should then use the democratic process to elect the new leadership.”