The MCA turncoat turncoats

Rising, rising, rising. Falling, falling, falling. Rising. Falling. Rising. Falling.

When Liow Tiong Lai wakes up this morning after a long night with his supporters he would realised that he is no more the deputy president but just one of MCA's six vice presidents.

Liow Tiong Lai must be so far the shortest serving deputy president of MCA. Nineteen days to be exact.The day he was elected by the MCA Central Committee on Oct 15 to Nov 3, 2009 when he was unceremoniously unseated by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) through a letter delivered to MCA headquarters which decided that Dr. Chua Soi Lek is still the deputy president.

Liow who has been hoping Ong Tee Keat will quit as MCA president after the 10 Oct EGM did not expect this sudden "demotion" in less than three weeks. If Tee Keat had quitted, Liow would have secured the presidency on a silver platter without going through a proper election by delegates in an AGM.

Even though Liow reserves his right to challenge the ROS decision, it is doubtful he will succeed as ROS based its decision to re-instate Chua Soi Lek on the MCA constitution. The only chance for Liow to get back the deputy president position, which never his anyway, is to contest for it in the next party election. That will be two years from now if his groups fails to call for an EGM to adopt a resolution to re-elect a new central committee.

It will not be surprising if Liow himself  will be tasting the same medicine he prescribed to Ong Tee Keat recently when his so-called comrades within his own group will be turning against him soon.  Who will be the turncoat turncoats? It is all man for himself. Those expected to abandon ship will be those with government positions who are at great risk of being dropped in the next Cabinet reshuffle if they are not in Tee Keat-Soi Lek's team.

Those at risks includes Deputy Minister of Finance Chor Chee Heung, Deputy Minister of Higher Education Hou Kok Chung and Youth and Sports Deputy Minister Wee Jeck Seng. If these three are sacked, their replacements will be selected from amongst CC members from Tee Keat-Soi Lek's team which includes just appointed CC member Labis MP Chua Tee Yong, former deputy finance minister Loke Yuen Yow, former deputy information minister Donald Lim, former Kelana Jaya MP Loh Seng Kok and former Indera Mahkota assemblyman Ti Lian Ker. This will reflect on the greater unity plan which give priorities to accommodate Chua Soi Leks's supporters. Those who are not MPs' will be appointed as a senator which quota for MCA is still available.

Those in Liow's team like Liow himself, Youth Chief Wee Ka Siong and Wanita Chief Chew Mei Fun are expected to keep their cabinet positions due to their senior party positions. But Liow is expected to be relieved of his duty as Penang state committee chief and Wee dropped as Malacca's state chief. Ong Tee Keat himself is expected to resumed his control over Selangor which current chairman Wong Foon Meng who is also MCA Secretary General has not been able to lord over the big players in Selangor. As widely speculated, Chua Soi Lek is expected to be returned his crown  in the Johore State Committee.

MCA Wanita's Secretary General and deputy Information and Culture Minister Heng Saik Kie was rewarded for her unwavering support for Ong Tee Keat throughout the crisis. Heng was appointed as the Information Bureau Chief replacing Liow's man Lee Wei Kiat. Heng's sudden ascendency to a senior post in the CC will be a challenge to Wanita chief Chew Mei Fun. Will a desperate Chew try to clip Heng's wings by removing her as Wanita's secretary general and turn the women wing topsy-turvy?

Ong Tee Keat's sword is already drawn and some heads are already on the ground and many more are expected to be on the chopping board in a couple of days. Once the new list of cabinet members are unveiled in the expected cabinet reshuffle after the  review of each minister's KPI this month, Ong Tee Keat will know by then how far is Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak going to back him up for a stronger and united MCA.- Loka