Soi Lek: Thou shalt not contest
> ‘Former MCA ministers, deputy ministers carry political baggage’
PETALING JAYA: Former MCA ministers and deputy ministers should not run for the presidency and other important central posts in the party’s upcoming polls, a former president said yesterday.
“The party’s three former Cabinet ministers and four former deputy ministers (from 2014 to May 2018) should stay out of the party elections,” Tan Sri Dr Chua Soi Lek said during a press conference here.
“They carry political baggage especially from the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal and are connected to the old administration.”
He condemned outgoing MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and deputy president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong for not speaking out on the 1MDB scandal.
He said if they were re-elected they would remind voters and party members of the reason why Barisan Nasional and MCA were defeated.
Chua said they should avoid taking part in the elections for as long as the case involving former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak remains in court.
Liow had announced that he would not be defending his post. Secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan, a former international trade and industry minister, had also ruled out contesting.
Chua said the top leadership had many opportunities over the last five years to transform the party, but had failed to do so.
He said instead of speaking out on the 1MDB scandal, they were more interested in promoting things like China’s One Belt One Road initiative.
Chua went on to say that the leadership had avoided the day-to-day issues that affected the people such as the rising cost of living.
He said this caused MCA members to become disillusioned with them for failing to address national issues whilst causing the party to lose support from the community and the public at large.
Chua also confirmed that he will not be contesting for the party’s top post.
He said he had retired from politics for over five years now, and there was a need for new blood to take up the challenge of transforming MCA into an effective party in the Opposition.
Wee, the party’s only MP, has announced his candidacy for the party’s top post.