KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 — Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek will be “a powerful man” if MCA overturns this Sunday its stand to refuse any government posts as there are “hundreds of posts for him to give out”, recently sacked party veteran Datuk Lee Hwa Beng said today.
The party’s extraordinary general meeting this Sunday will decide whether the party will accept appointments by the federal government, state governments, local authorities and government-linked companies.
Delegates will also vote on a resolution to censure MCA Deputy President Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, who had spoken out against plans to backtrack on the party’s decision to snub government appointments following its dismal showing in Election 2013.
“Most of the MCA members are disgusted [with the party politics], but delegates, they have a lot to gain or lose.
“A lot of people are not seeing why MCA is still relevant to delegates, but there are so many posts to give, hundreds of posts,” Lee said when contacted today.
The former Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) chief said that even if Dr Chua fails to get his deputy censured on Sunday, he will still be “very powerful” as the party president who will be “giving out” government posts that have been left vacant for the party.
“This is a testing ground for both parties, whether (Dr Chua) can stand despite the fact that most Chinese people don’t like him… BN doesn’t like him. If he wins comfortably in censuring Liow, then he might contest to retain his position.
“The actual fight is on December 21, so if Soi Lek censures Liow with a big majority, Soi Lek would have a good chance in retaining his post,” Lee said.
The party will hold its national elections on December 21 and its annual general meeting (AGM) the next day.
The Chinese-based party had resolved to not accept any government positions if the party’s performance in the 13th General Election was worse than in Election 2008.
MCA won seven parliamentary seats and 11 state seats in Election 2013, compared with 15 parliamentary seats and 31 state seats in the previous general elections.
Lee said he expects Dr Chua to weigh the option of either contesting to retain his post, or putting forward his nominee, if he gets a comfortable margin of support from the delegates in his effort to censure Liow on Sunday.
“And unfortunately, the delegates are not going to vote according to who will be better for the Chinese community.
“They like to bet on the winning horse, it is all for survival. This is the MCA culture,” the veteran politician said.
Dr Lim Teck Ghee, director of the Centre for Policy Initiatives, told The Malay Mail Online that the coming party elections will see two “discredited” leaders trying to kill each other off, in the hope of taking over a “party rich in financial assets but lacking any political future”.
“It is the party’s assets and access to power and positions as an underling of Umno that both are fighting over — to reward themselves and their followers.
“Whoever wins will inherit a spent political force but they will be hoping to sit at the main buffet table to stuff themselves before the dinner party ends — perhaps after the next general elections,” he said via e-mail.
James Chin, a political analyst from Monash University Sunway, agreed with Lim, saying that the elections will be about which faction gains control of MCA’s RM3 billion holdings.
“Also at stake is who is going to take up MCA Cabinet appointments and GLC posts.
“If the resolution goes through, [Liow] will have no chance at the presidency. The resolutions are designed to ‘kill’ his political career,” Chin said.
