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Liow: I never thought
of replacing Ong
by Husna Yusop
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
KUALA LUMPUR: MCA vice-
president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai
says he has never thought of taking
over the reins from party president
Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.
“I have never given it a thought.
It has never crossed my mind,” he
said when approached by report-
ers at Parliament Square after the
52nd Merdeka Day celebration
yesterday morning.
Chinese vernacular newspa-
pers, online news portals and
bloggers have been speculating
that Ong would step down to
make way for Liow following the
sacking of deputy president Datuk
Samy’s men lead race for veep posts
PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Dr S. Subramani-
am, Datuk S.K. Devamany and Datuk
M. Saravanan, who have the backing
of MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy
Vellu, are said to be leading the race
for the three posts of vice-president
to be decided at the party elections
on Sept 12.
Party observers and political
pundits believe these “high-powered
candidates” have the advantage of
their government positions. They are
also said to have an unblemished
reputation and a good track record
of serving the people.
Subramaniam is human resour-
ces minister while Devamany and
Saravanan are deputy minister in
the Prime Minister’s Department and
deputy federal territories minister
respectively.
The MIC elections will see 1,464
delegates picking a deputy president,
three vice-presidents and 23 central
working committee members. Samy
Vellu won the presidential election in
March, retaining the post for a record
11th consecutive term.
He has endorsed incumbent Datuk
G. Palanivel for deputy president.
The race for the three vice-presi-
dent’s posts is seven-cornered.
The other four candidates
are Datuk S. Balakrishnan, better
known as contractor Bala of Johor;
prominent businessman and veteran
politician Datuk V.K.K. Theagarajan;
former MIC Selangor Youth chief
P. Subramaniam; and P. Mariyayee of
Negri Sembilan, the only woman in
Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.
Stressing that the MCA must
remain strong, Liow said the party
appreciated Prime Minister Datuk
Seri Najib Abdul Razak’s advice
that the party resolve the problem
of Chua’s “sacking” quickly, and
would act accordingly.
“What’s important is the party’s
strength. We will ensure MCA
remains strong and able to help
Barisan Nasional deal with any
challenges in the country,” he said.
Ong dismissed reports of him
stepping down after chairing a
closed-door dialogue with state
Chinese associations and guilds,
saying he was unperturbed by the
rumours.
“I’m in no position to comment
the fray.
Saravanan, 41, said in an inter-
view that while Dr Subramaniam,
Devamany and he were said to be
leading, there were still 12 days to
go before the elections and “anything
could happen in this time frame”.
“Our chances are good as we
not only have the endorsement of
the president but also the capability
to work, given an opportunity by the
delegates. It is a crucial time for the
party and everyone, including the
delegates, realises this. I believe they
know who can serve the community
better and will make a wise choice.”
Dr Subramaniam, who is also the
MIC secretary-general, seems to be
leading the pack and this, observers
feel, is because of his position as a
minister and his clean reputation.
Devamany, on the other hand, has
the ability to attract younger voters,
apart from being in the good books
of older delegates.
Saravanan, regarded as a young
and vibrant leader, has the advantage
of a good command of spoken Tamil
and a strong understanding of reli-
gious matters.
Balakrishnan, who has been cam-
paigning hard nationwide, is likely to
give the trio a run for their money.
This Johor-born contractor’s
wealth is a plus point for him, but
observers feel he will leverage on his
service to try to win the hearts and
minds of delegates.
Theagarajan, another veteran,
says the elections and the 20-day
Low-key
celebrations
for N-Day
pg 5
on rumours and if rumour-mon-
gering has become part of our life
and new favourite past time, that is
indeed new to me. We in MCA have
our agenda to pursue,” he said.
Replying to newsmen, MCA
secretary-general Senator Datuk
Wong Foon Meng said: “Conflicts
within the party and disunity
among members can be resolved
if everyone understands the objec-
tive clearly.
“There should not be any prob-
lem in getting everyone together if
we have a clear line of thinking.
Politics is politics, but when it
comes to national unity or dealing
with other common issues in the
country, we should work together
as one.”
campaign period is working wonders
for the MIC in terms of comradeship
among leaders and delegates.
“So far, so good. I am happy and
confident. Besides competing for the
post, I notice there is a strong bond
developing between the leaders and
the delegates. This is a healthy trend.
It leads to better understanding and
unity among those in the party.”
Theagarajan is said to be well
liked by delegates, but whether this
will be translated into votes remains
to be seen.
V.K.K., as he is fondly known in
party circles, announced his bid to
contest the vice-presidency in 2003
but pulled out after “a bit of coaxing”
from Samy Vellu. He contested the
position in 2006 but missed the boat
after coming in fourth.
Subramaniam, 44, said his chances
were bright “because of my youth”.
“The people, mainly delegates, have
said they prefer a leader who is
young and vibrant. Judging from the
feedback, I think my chances are
equal to the others,” he said.
Pundits however believe he still
has some way to go before he can
make a strong challenge for the post.
Mariyayee, meanwhile, is said to
have insufficient clout to challenge
the Samy Vellu-endorsed trio, with
party observers saying she is banking
on MIC Wanita votes and is seen to be
the weakest of the seven candidates.
If anyone were to catch up
with Samy Vellu’s men, it would be
Balakrishnan. – Bernama
It’s about the MCA’s
survival
IT IS no coincidence that the mounting
political pressures that MCA president
and Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong
Tee Keat is faced with come on the
heels of his relentless push for action
against those responsible for the Port
Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) multi-billion
ringgit fiasco.
His stance on the issue has ruffled
feathers, especially of those who had
reaped billions of ringgit in taxpayers’
money.
Never has a cabinet minister risked
his political career to expose the man-
oeuvrings or the powerful forces of
politicians and their business interests.
Ong, who was elected MCA
president only last October, could have
played along with the forces and sat
pretty at the helm of a 60-year-
old Chinese political party.
However, he chose not
to and is now under attack
from within and outside.
Whether or not Ong’s
decision was foolish, the
day of reckoning is not
far off. If he triumphs, it
will be a classic case of
good over evil.
The forces are today
working in overdrive to topple
him. What complicates matters
are MCA’s internal forces led
by its sacked deputy presi-
dent Datuk Seri Dr Chua
Soi Lek who was caught
committing adultery by a
spy camera last year.
Chua, of course, will
have his own political
agenda, while external
forces led by Barisan Nas-
ional Backbenchers Club
Chua
chairman and Bintulu MP
Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing and
others, will have theirs.
Tiong is the chief operating officer of
PKFZ turnkey developer Kuala Dimensi
Sdn Bhd, the subject of reports lodged
with the police and the Malaysian Anti-
Corruption Commission by the Port
Klang Authority.
The only way to derail the stripping
naked of PKFZ deals over the years is to
get rid of Ong. Both Chua and Tiong thus
have a common target.
But the battle now is not just about
Ong, Chua or Tiong. It is about the MCA’s
political survival and future. Already, the
Chinese community has abandoned the
party that represented them for well
over 60 years. The political tsunami of
March 8, 2008 is testimony to this fact.
The recent Permatang Pasir by-elec-
tion has shown that Chinese support
for the Barisan Nasional, especially the
MCA, continues to shrink despite the
coalition’s effort to reunite the people.
Who would have imagined before
the last general election that Chinese
voters would overwhelmingly choose
| TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 1 2009
Analysis
by Ng Kee Seng
PAS over Umno.
If it is not Umno or BN, the MCA
clearly has a serious credibility problem
where the Chinese community is con-
cerned. How else can MCA’s diminishing
political influence on the community be
explained?
Ong has, for the future of the MCA,
been trying to reform the party by
championing transparency in the hope
of boosting its image as a team of politi-
cians that is clean and dynamic.
It is also an effort to show that the
new MCA leadership is trying to lead
without any fear of backlash from
powerful political forces. It is
this perception of fear for
political masters over the
years that eroded the
Chinese community’s
confidence in the MCA to
represent their interests.
However, the ambi-
tious Chua has been
Ong
on the offensive almost
immediately after the last
party elections. After hinting
that he might join the Opposition
on the ground that he has no
role to play in the MCA, he
lobbied for the job of BN
coordinator in Pakatan
Rakyat-held states.
After securing the
position, he has been
calling for meetings with
MCA members, using the
excuse of “orders from
above (political masters)”.
Now Chua and his supporters
are crying foul that he has been
sacked by Ong.
If Ong is that powerful, he need not
have called for a presidential council (PC)
meeting to decide on the recommenda-
tion of the party’s disciplinary board to
expel Chua for committing adultery and
tarnishing the MCA’s image.
Or are Chua and his supporters say-
ing the other 19 members (Chua is also
a member) of the PC are in no position
to decide on his sacking?
On Saturday evening, Ong decided
to take transparency in the party’s
decision-making a step higher. Using his
presidential powers, he directed MCA
secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon
Meng to call an extraordinary general
meeting within 30 days to allow mem-
bers to decide on Chua’s sacking.
The wisdom of some 2,000-odd
delegates at the EGM will therefore
determine their party’s future – whether
to give the MCA the chance to bounce
back from a political tsunami or to
plunge it deeper into oblivion in the
eyes of the Chinese community.