Six MCA division leaders call on Soi Lek to step down
GEORGE TOWN: Six MCA division leaders in Penang have called for the resignation of party president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek for what they described as MCA’s disappointing performance in the 13th General Election (GE13).
The six MCA divisions - Jelutong, Bayan Baru, Tanjong, Bukit Bendera, Permatang Pauh and Tasek Gelugor - want Soi Lek to take responsibility for the party’s poor results.
Bayan Baru MCA division chief David Yim said his resignation would restore the image and good name of the party.
“This is also the only opportunity for Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek to redeem himself and apologise to all Malaysian Chinese and MCA members for all the damages he had done,” he told reporters Jelutong division MCA headquarters, here, yesterday.
Also present were Tanjong MCA division’s deputy chief Lee Hack Teik, Jelutong MCA Youth chief Tan Eng Hin, MCA Bukit Bendera vice president Tan Khai Beng, Permatang Pauh MCA division chief Datuk Ma Kok Ben, Gelugor MCA division chief Kong Chu Hock and Jelutong MCA division chief Datuk Leow Soo Tat.
David Yim who represented the six MCA divisions said among reasons Soi Lek should take the blame for the poor showing in the GE13 was his selection of candidates who were mostly his cronies while members are also unhappy with his leadership as a self- centered person while the question of his tainted image continues to linger among the Chinese community.
He added that division leaders were also unhappy with the current situation and status of the party that has been labelled as a ‘Seven Eleven’ party that sold only VCD.
“As loyal party members, we want to support our party and help the party to rebuild, revamp and reform. If we don’t reform it now I think in next general election, MCA will be totally wiped off,” he said.
In the GE13, MCA managed to win only seven of the 37 Parliament seats contested and 11 of the 90 state seats contested, a result that was far worst than in 2008 when MCA won 15 of the 40 Parliament seats contested and 32 of the 90 state seats contested.
In Johor Baharu, Pulai MCA division deputy chief Chia Song Cheng also urged Chua to resign following the poor performance of the second biggest component party in BN.
The former Pengkalan Rinting state assemblyman who was not chosen as a candidate in the GE13 said Chua had made the wrong choice of candidates and for that reason his resignation would restore the image of the party.
“The President ( Chua) had said his chosen candidates were winnable candidates but the results had proven otherwise,” he said adding that since he had lost confidence in Chua’s leadership, he has decided to resign as the Johor MCA Public Complaints Bureau chief, a post he had held since 2009.
“I have tendered my resignation letter to the president but I will remain a MCA member and Pulai MCA division deputy and chairman of Kampung Kempas Baru branch to serve the people. I am not doing this because I was disappointed for not being chosen as a candidate,” he said.
In Melaka, Bukit Katil and Tangga Batu MCA divisions also called on Soi Lek to resign immediately.
Tangga Batu division deputy chief Datuk Lau Puan Long said it was important for Soi Lek to step down as to restore the image, stability and relevance of the party.
Bukit Katil division vice president Chua Kheng Hwa said MCA’s poor results showed that Chinese voters had lost confidence in Soi Lek’s leadership. — Bernama