Resurgence of Loh Seng Kok

Kelana Jaya former member of parliament Loh Seng Kok must have consumed a tiger's heart recently. After being silent for quite some time in addressing issues of public interest, he finally issued a press statement criticizing Azhar Ibrahim, Umno opposition leader in Penang state assembly for the uncalled for statement in regards to the ghost of May 13 racial conflict in 1969 which no one will want to commemorate it. But then what is so surprising of an Umno official uttering those pea brain remarks since Azhar was not the first and don't expect him to be the last.

Seng Kok has been out of the public interest radar for some time as he was so engrossed in the protracted MCA power struggle which "finally" concluded recently. Unless of course if statements on MCA turf war and its relevancy to the Chinese are considered matters of public interest. Maybe his recent promotion as MCA's deputy publicity chief also does the trick. Hoped this would not be the last public interest statement to come from him considering that an Umno mob might barged into his office in MCA and demanded that he apologize and retracts his statement.

If that happens, it would not be surprising since it is not the first time for an Umno mob to threaten him. He was given that treatment from his Umno comrades in 2006 when he was still the Kelana Jaya MP. A group of Umno members mobbed him in his previous service centre in Sunway and issued an ultimatum to him in regards to his speech in parliament on religion and history which were based on factual situation.

So Khairy, when are you "visiting" Seng Kok for another ultimatum? Or should you delegate to Reezal Marican instead as you don't do this sort of mob rule approach anymore after being elected as an MP?

On the other hand after taking the political gamble to back up Chua Soi Lek all the way until Soi Lek was elected as MCA's president, will Seng Kok's resurgence in MCA's political scene a prelude to his comeback effort to reclaim his throne as Kelana Jaya's member of parliament? Looking back, he was unceremoniously dumped as an incumbent to defend his seat in 2008 by MCA's former president Ong Ka Ting. But then if he really has the tiger heart to make a comeback for the Kelana Jaya seat, he may not be facing the current MP but someone else who previously shares the same platform with him but now is in Pakatan Rakyat. - Loka

Winners and Losers in Hulu Selangor

After eight straight days of an all out campaign for the control of Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat the official results shows that BN candidate P. Kamalanathan upstage PKR's Zaid Ibrahim with a 1,725 majority to be elected the new MP for the large constituency.

Even though the by-election was a direct contest between the two candidates, there are many other victors and losers as well.

The Bosses

As expected the voters of Hulu Selangor were showered with goodies in the form of cash, development projects, land titles and PROMISES. For sure these are on top of the usual 10 KG pack of rice, Milo, cooking oil, drinking water, cheap T-shirts and caps and whatever that will make the day of the makciks and pakciks and the innocent kids.

The Towkays

From the popular kaya puff shop owner to the makcik who manned the roadside stall selling air sirap, these group will be hoping that by-elections will happen more often. Of course they are not cursing the newly elected MP to drop dead any soon but they can't be blamed if that aspiration is hiding behind their smiling face thinking of the flowing ringgits for the last two weeks.

The Candidates

P. Kamalanathan might have won the seat and will be greeted as YB but in the eyes of many including the community that he claims to represent he has lost his dignity and pride when he stoop so low to appease his political masters.

Zaid Ibrahim lost in this full fledge battle and having his personal matter stripped bare for the public view but his personal conviction for the interest of the people was given a strong endorsement. The people of HS will not be seeing the last of him yet.

The Commanders

Those in HS and outsiders who visited the place during the by-election has been wondering who is really the BN candidate? People noticed the large quantity of posters, billboards  and banners of his face in town might assumed Najib Razak is the candidate.

Najib Razak is actually the real winner here. He can now claim that the BN victory is an endorsement of his leadership and policies that he rolled out since appointed as Prime Minister a year ago. But then he need to reflect deeply on the 80% of Chinese votes that went to PKR, when translated meaning the Chinese actually still has doubts over his sincerity and policies.

Anwar Ibrahim has been in the forefront campaigning for his comrade since day one. Basing on the result, his popularity and support within the Malay community is not stable and if left unchecked it will be his Archilles heel in the next general election. On the other hand he  now knows he can count on the votes from the Chinese community and the support of DAP in mobilising election machinery within the community.

Muhyiddin Yassin is one big loser in this by-election. The usual Umno practice is for the party deputy president to lead the campaign in any by-election. Initially Muhyiddin was in charge but when the tide was favoring PR, his boss Najib decided to fly straight from Japan to HS to lead the campaign. This gives the impression that Najib has no confidence on Muhyiddin leadership and a slap on the face of his deputy.

Khalid Ibrahim as the Selangor Menteri Besar learn the trade to pull all the plugs as the state government to utilised all state facilities support this by-election from his predecessors but too bad that Felda is not under the control of the state government. Maybe he should be more a shrewd politician rather than a businessman when handling people from Umno.

Tok Guru Nik Aziz influence and endearment amongst the Chinese community is now gone beyond Kelantan. If he is still able to keep his momentum by the next election and campaign in BN stronghold like Johore, the Chinese voters there might shake some of the seats occupied by MCA/BN.

Lim Kit Siang is already a household name amongst the HS electorates, Malays included. Thanks to Utusan Malaysia for giving him the "coverage" from time to time. As for the Chinese voters, his presence in every political stops wstill accords him a star speaker status. With an increased of support from the Chinese, efforts need to be taken for him to penetrate the Malay electorates for the next election.

Chua Soi Lek the recently elected MCA president was not around in HS most of the time as he was said to be overseas visiting his daughter. He was only seen when Najib is in HS. His presence was nothing more than an extra in a show with Najib in the leading role. He must now dig out whatever reasons he can to explain to Najib the Chinese rejection of MCA, or is it more on Umno or he himself personally?

The Political Parties

MIC is the party of P.Kamalanathan but the party that really campaigned with whatever tricks of the trade is Umno. From the onset of this by-election it can be noticed and proven that it is Umno that called all the shots and decision making process, from the selection of candidates to whether MIC president Samy Vellu should show his face in HS. People are reminded that MIC is now Muhyiddin-In-Charge.

UMNO can now claim that the Malays are truly backing them and they have contained PKR and PAS especially PR supremo Anwar Ibrahim. But they will be barking at Chua Soi Lek asking for explanation why MCA failed to secure the Chinese votes. With millions of taxpayers money pumped into the pockets of the voters, the platform is now set for the mother of all battles - the 13th general election.

PKR losing another parliamentary seat is a big blow not just to the party but also the Pakatan Rakyat as this has increased the BN potential to reclaim 2/3 majority in Parliament. The result also shows that PKR is losing grip on whatever balance of support they have since March 2008. This party really need to revamp their election machinery if they are serious of winning seats and capturing Putrajaya.

DAP rocketing growth in terms of membership and branches since March 2008 has been a boost to the PR by-election machinery. Even though PKR lost the seat but support for the DAP is on the rise. This can be observed from the numbers of self paying volunteers from all over the country helping out in the campaign and also the huge attendance in DAP organised events during the by-election.

MCA provided token support to the BN election machinery. This is not surprising since they just went through more than one year of internal strife. Their machinery are moving half heartedly and other than some cameo appearances by some of their ministers and deputy ministers, their presence are hardly noticeable. From the result, it is not surprising if many of the 8,000 MCA members in HS voted for Zaid Ibrahim.

PAS was initially slow in mobilising their party machinery in doing real campaign work to solicite for votes even though their presence during nomination day was huge. After few days of snail paced movement which cause the Malay heartland in Felda further entrenched with Umno, PAS began to push into the Felda areas. The arrival of Tok Guru Nik Aziz provided the confidence booster but just not enough to draw out the votes.

GERAKAN which once upon time a party to be reckoned with do not even make its' presence felt in HS. Maybe only during nomination when its' president Koh Tsu Koon was a given a cameo appearance.

IPF, campaign even in death?

PPP, who is the president?

The power-play and battle of wits in HS is now over. It is time for the locals to re-claim their life in this outback district. But life would not be the same anymore. The people there now must look through their checklist on all the promises and commitments by both side of the political divide.

First thing in the morning, the people of Rasa will be waiting in front of Najib's PM office door for their RM3 million as promised. A promise is a promise even if the people of Rasa did not vote for BN. But wonders if MACC will be there too? - Loka

P#94 Hulu Selangor Snippets 2

Snippets 2 - From 80 to 20

The Asam Kumbang new village in Kuala Kubu Baru has been MCA's stronghold for many years. The previous KKB assemblyman C'hng Toh Eng served there for many terms. The current assemblyman MCA's Wong Koon Mun won the seat with 448 majority against DAP's S. Ramu in the 2008 general election.

MCA is so strong in this village that 80% of the adult villagers are known to be members of the party. That's truly a remarkable feat until the 2008 Political Tsunami when the Selangor state government changes from BN to PR. This means the right to appoint the village chief are in the hands of the new government and a new village chief was duly appointed to replace the previous one.

The new village chief, Mr. Goh Tian Lai

Interestingly the new village chief, Goh Tian Lai, is also a life-long member of MCA! He divulged that after the PR government took over and provide the necessary support and assistance to the village, the support for MCA dropped from 80% to the current 20%! On the day I met him, he and some other villagers were busy making preparation in the village multipurpose community hall for the night's DAP event to campaign for PR candidate.

DAP dinner at the Asam Kumbang new village multipurpose hall

The pride of the village i.e. the multipurpose hall is managed by the village security and welfare committee headed by the village chief. The hall has been fully used for PR events during the by-election period. The MCA ends up have to set up tents at the road side and other open space for their events. Now they know how it feels to be in the opposition! - Loka

P#94 Hulu Selangor Snippets 1

Snippets 1 - Not too old to change

Mr. Hong, the Hainanese owner of the Yoot Loy Coffeeshop in Kuala Kubu Baru is 80 this year. He started his coffeshop more than 30 years ago with the support of his friends. He was a former Homeguards security member during the Emergency period ( 1948 - 1960). He is still waiting for a letter of commendation from the government for his service to the King and country.

Photographs of both Prime Minister Najib Razak and Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim having a drink (only black coffee, not Johnnie Walker Black Label ) in different occasions are pasted on opposite walls of the shop. Hong junior was disappointed when he saw Lim Kit Siang outside the shop few days ago but Kit Siang did not walk in. As a businessman he welcomes all to his shop, disregard of their political affiliations. As long as they pay for their bills!

His crypted response and body language tells that even if he is a card carrying member of MCA, which is part of the BN coalition, his vote on April 25 may not necessary goes to the coalition. The claims of 8,000 MCA members amongst the 16,000 voters in Hulu Selangor may be true but turning that into votes for BN is another matter altogether.

By the way, the toast with home made kaya spread and butter is one of the most popular item in this shop.- Loka

Noose over Mei Fun's head

After I delivered my speech during a youth program at Universiti Malaya, I returned to my seat beside hers at the VIP row. Then she asked me in Mandarin," Are you a comrade"? What she meant was whether I am a member of her party, the Malaysian Chinese Association. I replied in the negative. The conversation happens few years ago when I was still the Malaysian Youth Council vice president.

A couple of weeks later, when I met her again on some other religious related matters, she suggested that I should get myself involved in the newly established Crisis Relief Squad of MCA which she was the founding head. I just listened without giving any response to her. At that period of time, I was comfortable running programs for the youth via the Malaysian Youth Council. Joining a political party or its community service arm was not an option then.

Now the person who asked me whether I am her comrade is staring at a possible change of political life in the next few days. Chew Mei Fun the MCA Wanita Head already put her head in the noose when she declared last year she would quit her post if the sex DVD tainted Chua Soi Lek becomes MCA president. Soi Lek was elected the president in the recent AGM. Politics is an art of turning the impossible to possible and vice versa.

The noose on Mei Fun's head are getting tighter by the day. It is now up to her to decide whether to be a person with integrity who honours one's word by pulling the rope or be known as a typical loose-mouthed politician whose words are just worth a pinch of salt when she unleashed the noose by giving all sorts of excuses!

By pulling the rope and make her breathless, will it be the end of her political career? Will she lose out on her political clout and influence if she quits as the Wanita head and also deputy minister's position? Not necessarily if we gauged MCA politics especially basing on recent events. What's the fuss all that about if MCA delegates can even voted in a person who quits all positions due to a sex scandal two years after the incident?

While quitting all her positions will reduced her influence and authority, she may as well be looking at a bigger role for herself in the next party election. By that time the delegates will be reminded that she is a person with integrity and trustworthiness who did what she committed to the people. Her stature might just grow higher by the next election.

On the other hand, if she decided to keep her positions with whatever reasons she might cooked up with she might as well lost her dignity and respect that other people especially her members had on her. She may reasoned that her Wanita members wants her to stay because her position is elected by Wanita wing and not appointed by Chua Soi Lek. Whatever her reasons, the stain will be there.

The delegates might forgive a person for his sexual indiscretion as a personal misadventure. But for the Chinese community, trust and integrity are two very important aspects which once lost will be very difficult to reclaim back. Mei Fun knows that. Her political foes knows that too. But the rope is in her hands. To pull or not to pull, it's all up to her. - Loka

Soi Lek's woman factor

Did Chua Soi Lek really wins the MCA presidency? Many may still be wondering how can it happened when polls reports shows majority of the people wants Ong Tee Keat to be retained. The results clearly tells the people that the MCA delegates don't understand or give a damn to what the people wants. It is what the delegates wants that matters! The people are fools, only the delegates knows how to make wise decisions!

Did Soi Lek really wins the presidency on his own because the delegates supports him? Firstly, he won only 38.9% of the total votes casted and more importantly, the votes was most probably not for him but are sympathy votes for his wife! Everyone can notice that Soi Lek took his wife Wong Sek Hin along when lobbying for votes. Did Ong Ka Ting wife's, Wendy Ong or Ong Tee Keat wife's Jane Ong openly tag along during their hubby's campaign trail?

Well, it seems women plays an important role in his political career as it looks like the rise of this guy to power is due to a woman and his fall from power too was caused by a woman. Now, will his re-entry to the Cabinet facilitated by another powerful woman who is somebody else's wife? People who have similiar experience and interest might be able to clique together. As the proverb says, "birds of a feather flock together"! -Loka

Cukuplah Najib, Muhyiddin

Kalaulah berlaku masalah teknikal semasa percetakan, mesin cetak  mula boleh berfikir, artikel mungkin menjadi seperti berikut.

Cukuplah Tee Keat Najib, Soi Lek Muhyiddin... — PAwang Tak Selamat

Sampai bila kemelut sandiwara kepimpinan MCA UMNO akan berlarutan bertahan? Itulah persoalan yang berlegar di kalangan orang ramai terutama ahli-ahli parti itu.

PAwang setuju dengan penegasan Pengerusi Barisan Nasional (BN) Gua Musang Mohd. Najib Tun Razak Razaleigh Hamzah bahawa MCA UMNO perlu selesaikan segera krisis dalamannya royalti minyak demi mengukuhkan kedudukan BN. Jika tidak diselesaikan, ia hanya merugikan MCA UMNO selain membuang masa dan tenaga kepada hal yang tidak wajar. Tumpuan sepatutnya diberikan kepada tugas-tugas parti untuk menolong rakyat.

PAwang tidak berminat mengulas panjang. Sudah banyak analisis tentang MCA UMNO ditulis tetapi realitinya kemelut parti royalti minyak itu semakin buruk. Pelan damai Perjanjian tidak dihormati, formula alasan  demi formula alasan gagal dan penyelesaiannya entah ke mana. Terbaru, ada beberapa bahagian rancangan mencadangkan bekas Presiden MCA MB Johor, Ong Ka Ting Muhyiddin bertanding jawatan Presiden MCA UMNO pada pemilihan baru hujung bulan ini  akan datang. Ia cadangan menarik tetapi PAwang tidak fikir ia akan membantu UMNO.

Dalam kita menyerahkan kepada MCA UMNO untuk menyelesaikan sendiri kemelut meneruskan sandiwara mereka , ia tidak bermakna kita harus mengunci mulut. PAwang percaya isu tersebut tidak juga boleh selesai jika Presidennya, Ong Tee Keat Najib berundur. Begitu juga dengan Timbalan Presiden, Chua Soi Lek Muhyiddin. Membenarkan Tee Keat Muhyiddin yang dibelenggu isu kewibawaan dan Soi Lek Najib dengan isu moralnya - terus berada dalam kepimpinan - hanya merisikokan lagi MCA UMNO dan BN.

PAwang percaya MCA UMNO tidak ketandusan pemimpin. Kalangan pemimpin pelapis boleh dijadikan sandaran. Tinggal lagi semua pihak harus berani mengambil langkah besar. Tee Keat Najib dan Soi Lek Muhyiddin terlebih dahulu harus merasa malu bertaubat. Janganlah gadaikan parti untuk ego dan kepentingan sendiri. Prestasi MCA UMNO pada pilihan raya umum lalu sudahlah buruk bukannya sebaik mana, bagaimana mahu bangkit menyakinkan membangunkan rakyat jika para pemimpinnya masih mementingkan soal jawatan. Bosan PAwang. - Cetusan Malaysia

Nightmare at MCA Street

Even before any of the candidates can celebrate their success in being elected the new MCA president, the first round of nightmare is awaiting in Perlis. The MCA assemblyman for Titi Tinggi Yip Sun Onn already submitted his resignation as the elected representative. Another by-election and this will be the first involving an MCA seat.

Amongst the 25% Chinese electorates in the constituency, it will be a referendum on the new (old/recycle) president. If MCA secures majority of the Chinese votes and retains the seat, supporters of the newly elected president will be going around town declaring the Chinese community is back with the MCA/BN. But if the Chinese votes went to PKR or PAS, it will further de-moralised its members and further weakened MCA's bargaining chips with her big brother Umno.

Will this be the beginning of a domino effect especially after the outcome of the March 28 party election. Defections, quitting the party and declaring themselves independents is not a remote possibility. Maybe Labis, if the father lost the race or Pandan itself quits to be an independent if thrashed and felt betrayed? Or maybe Kulai wants to head the Parti Cinta Malaysia? But then there is the RM2 billion party assets to consider. Nope. After considering the amount of dough involved, it won't be happening. Just wishful thinking.

One thing for sure, Ong Tee Keat will have a lot of answering to do especially to the delegates since the assemblyman resigns during his watch. Maybe this is part of the scheme to ensure he will not retain his presidency. What a price to pay for the coveted presidency! Resigning at this critical period shows Yip Sun Onn is just part of the pawn in this political game in MCA.

What would they think of next in a week? Threaten subtlely to quit enbloc if their leaders and team mates are not elected? Or maybe another Made in MCA DVD? - Loka

MCA's Triple Cai Tan

The dinner date has been set. The venue has been booked. All the guests already received their invitation. The big question is what dishes are they going to eat as the guests has been served with three types of menu. Are they going to choose from only one set, mixture of two or even ala carte choices from three menus? The guests will be spoilt for choice.

Even though there are claims by some that there are no such thing as different teams, the candidates list for the MCA election on March 28 can be pooled into three teams namely Ong Tee Keat's, Chua Soi Lek's and Ong Ka Ting's a.k.a Liow Tiong Lai's. Campaigners are expected to woo the delegates to vote along the cai tan (menu) or preferred candidates by each faction.  The cai tan are can be listed all the way to the election of central committee members. Each faction had submitted their candidates to contest in every vacancy except the deputy president position, which Ong Tee Keat faction did not managed to offer any candidate.

 

The respective faction's probable Cai Tan:

                            Ong Tee Keat's     Chua Soi Lek's                  Ong Ka Ting's

President             Ong Tee Keat         Chua Soi Lek                     Ong Ka Ting

Deputy                none                        Kong Cho Ha                    Liow Tiong Lai

Vice president     Loke Yuen Yow      Dr Ng Yen Yen                 Chor Chee Heung

                           Gan Ping Sieu          Edward Khoo Keok Hai    Yew Teong Look

                           Yap Pian Hon          Donald Lim Siang Chai       Alex Wong Siong Hwee

                           ( Dr Ng Yen Yen )   Dr Yeow Chai Thiam         ( Dr Ng Yen Yen )

As for the central committee committee members, each faction has nominated at least 25 candidates with some "outsiders" who are not alligned with any of the factions jumping in to try their luck.

 

What will be the choice menu of the 2,378 delegates on March 28?

 

In the absence of last minute horse trading, counter offers, withdrawals, back stabbing and betrayals, the choice for the presidency will be a neck to neck race. Kong Cho Ha is widely expected to obtain support from Tee Keat's faction to win the deputy president post unless both Tee Keat and Ka Ting's comes to an understanding to distribute the deputy and vice presidents posts amongst themselves. If that happens, some of their own will be sacrificed.  It can be 1 DP+1VP for Ka Ting's faction and 3 VPs for Tee Keat's group

For the four vice presidents, those who are members of parliament and holding government appointments will have the advantage. These includes Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen and deputy Finance Minister Chor Chee Heung. Looking at it, the sure winner will be the shrewd Ng Yen Yen, the only female candidate for vice president. Her name will be on each faction's menu, even though she is known to be rooting for Chua Soi Lek.

 

The delegates criteria to elect the central committee will also give priority to candidates who are either members of Parliament or State assemblymen. The central delegates would not want to take the risk of these candidates jumping to other parties if they loses. Electing them will ensure these candidates will stay within MCA as the numbers of MCA elected representatives are already so depleted and they cannot afford to loose any of them further.

 

Geographical consideration will be another matter to look into. The delegates will need to ensure all the relevant states are representated. That is the reason why some unexpected candidates won because of territorial quota. Some will win even though they are considered losers because every delegates thought they will not win but ends up receiving enough votes to win because they are regarded as "rubbish bin". Votes are given to them not because the delegates supports them but the delegates do not want to vote others.

It will be day dreaming if anyone expects the problems in MCA to be solved with this by-election. It will be only a starter to another bigger dinner, err....I mean election. MCA will be facing another election in 2011 and the battle amongst the Three Factions will be spread out from branch level to the national election. It will be more crucial. Unless of course if the general election are held before the next MCA election as the imcumbent president will only nominate his own men as candidates and exterminate his rivals. Without any elected office or ministerial appointments, it will be tough to challenge the imcumbents by then.

That is if the MCA candidates can win in the next election. If they are wipe out or perform worse than 2008, the party will be in shambles and its relevancy to Malaysian politics will be further eroded.

Pot bellied delegates

MCA president Ong Tee Keat was in my area twice in less than a month.  Another MCA leader Liow Tiong Lai, was also there but he left immediately after Tee Keat arrives. Both just have a quick hand shake and parted immediately. Their relationship has turned from sweet to sour within months. Now it is actually tasteless. 

Yesterday noon, Tee Keat was at the MCA Kelana Jaya Division again. This time it is for a very serious business, that is to launch his campaign to defend his presidency. For him to pick this division as his launching pad for his campaign says a lot about his influence in MCA Selangor. Not because of the wide support he has, but the lacked of it.

Need to remember that the former Kelana Jaya division chairman is non other Lee Hwa Beng, the current Port Klang Authority (PKA) chairman. While Lee was reappointed as PKA chairman by Ong, Hwa Beng was actually kicked out in 2008 as the division chairman by his own strong supporters include the current chairman Ong Chong Swen.

Selangor has one of the largest central delegates but Tee Keat does not have the largest cut. Former vice president Lim Siang Chai is still influential in some of the divisions while Wanita head Chew Mei Fun still has certain influence via the ladies wings. Other than Pandan, maybe Kelana Jaya provides a more secure platform for him to launch his campaign. Other divisions might not be that friendly.

With the entry of Ong Ka Ting into the presidential fray, the central delegates will be further split into smaller numbers for each factions. The well coordinated charade to bring in Ka Ting to fight for his former post must have surprised Tee Keat and rattle presidential wannabe Chua Soi Lek. By now both their strategists would be busy re-drawing their campaign strategies and reviewing alliances.

All the three factions will be hitting the road everyday until election eve, meeting central delegates or striking new deals amongst themselves. It will be a stressful and breathless two weeks. At any day, the election hopefuls especially the presidential candidates can be in at least three states within a day. It is amazing to see how their aides coordinates their bosses travel and transportation arrangements. And by the time the election is over, after counting the votes they received they will most probably counting the speeding tickets they get from the police or JPJ!

As for the central delegates they will be the kings of the month of March! They will get personal calls and SMS'es from ministers, deputy ministers and big businessmen and influential Chinese community leaders who are alligned with certain candidates. Many of the delegates will not be buying lunch or dinners for at least these two weeks, not because they can't afford it but they will be feted in posh restaurants or hotels by the candidates. By end of March many of these delegates will be gaining extra inches around their waist.

No wonder a tailor recently advised me to order more extra extra large sizes for the shirts that we ordered for our organisation. Her justification was that most people who are involved in Chinese based organisations are usually big size and pot bellied! But later we found out those XXL sizes do not have many takers. Maybe we are not delegates!- Loka

MCA Bian Lian Pte Ltd

The master was able to change his face within less than a second. He did it with such slick movement that the audiences watching the opera clapped with awed and astounding excitement. With modern day acoustics, the performance became even more dramatic and entertaining. The audience just do not know and comprehend what face the performer going to change into next.

Well, that was the art of China's Szechuan Face Changing or bian lian ( 變臉) in Chinese. This art began in China 300 years ago. Performers can changed their face into different look to depict characters in Chinese opera shows. It has been very popular in the local scene especially during cultural performace or dinners attended by the Chinese community.

But for those who did not have the opportunity to watch the Szechuan bian lian so far, they can count themselves lucky as Malaysia has their very own version of bian lian which are performed widely throughout the country and to the whole world too. And it is for free. These performances are presented by a local troupe who endeared themselves as MCA Bian Lian Pte. Ltd.

Frankly, I used to follow closely on these performance with "interest" because I personally knows some of the top performers and used to give moral and spiritual support to some of them. But now, I think like many who has been concern about the standard and quality of the troupe, we just don't care anymore. These performers  face changing skills are so expected that people do not bothered with what appearance they are changing into next. Except maybe the performers themselves!

People are no more excited and concerned whether this MCA Bian Lian troupe is going to close down or even taken over by corporate raiders and run by outsiders who are least concern with the survival, dignity and importance of the Chinese bian lian.

I think it's better for me to stick to the professioanlly tested and consistent Szechuan bian lian. At least I know they are putting up a show to earn a honest living for real. - Loka

Sin Chew and free paper

Suddenly a copy of newspaper was pushed over to my hand and I heard a voice saying, "it's free". Before I can even say anything, a copy of the  Sin Chew Daily which is the highest circulated Chinese vernacular newspaper in the country was already in my hands. Initially I thought it was the free Chinese language paper launched recently.

I took a quick turn and saw a man wearing a  T- shirt with Sin Chew emblazoned on it giving out today's paper to everyone in sight - free of charge. Within less than five minutes all the lunch patrons in the coffeeshop was either holding a copy of the paper or laid on the table.

After I took my seat at the only unoccupied table, I have a quick browse of the said "free" paper. Not that I read it, but just to look through on some statistics and photographs related to the UPSR results announced yesterday.

Thinking about it later, I have a hunch that the reason the Sin Chew paper was distributed free today was related to the spat between the paper and the MCA central committee member Ti Lian Ker. Ti had claimed the paper are used to promote the hidden agenda to discredit MCA's president Ong Tee Keat.

Is Sin Chew feeling the heat that the public are upset with its recent purported agenda against Ong Tee Keat and their circulation are dropping by the day. By giving out free papers, Sin Chew hopes its agenda will continue to be read by the public and keep its leading circulation status intact.

Maybe I will visit the coffeeshop again to tomorrow to see if I will be given another free copy of the Sin Chew Daily News.

New Chinese-based Party

Are we looking at the birth of another political party to look after the Chinese interest?

Since majority of the Chinese are already disillusioned with the MCA, the Chinese community will be looking for an alternative new party to look after their interest. Is that what Umno telling MCA's president Ong Tee Keat that MCA is dispensable and can be replaced and forsaken anytime if Tee Keat do not toe the BN, err.....Umno line.

Even though Umno leaders are emphasizing the importance of MCA's unity and stability in the interest of Barisan Nasional, the reality is more on the hidden but well known agenda of Umno's ability to shadow MCA's leadership than anything else. Have we ever heard of any comments from other BN component leaders on the current MCA leadership struggle. None actually. Or maybe just from the chap who is embroiled in the PKFZ fiasco.

It will not be surprising to all if a new Chinese based party is established and given an instant birth certificate of registration after this November 28. Nov 28 is the day when the Liow Tiong Lai's faction called for the 2nd EGM. If the 2nd EGM fails to materialised due to lack of support from the delegates, it spells doomed for Liow and his supporters. Unless of course if Ong Tee Keat is forced to eat humble pie during the meeting called by Najib before Nov 28 and given the ultimatum to give up or get out.

The newly set up Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party was launched by Najib in October this year which clearly gave signal to Samy Vellu's MIC that his party is not indispensable from BN.

But Umno is barking at the wrong tree when it says the Chinese will not support the BN due to MCA's infighting. The reality is that the Chinese voters rejected BN not because of MCA's weaknesses as the main cause but more to the unfair policies, bullying and arrogant attitude of Umno. This was clearly the message in last year's general election when the DAP called upon the Chinese community to teach Umno a lesson by voting out MCA's candidates whom mostly stood in Chinese majority seats or seats with substantial Chinese votes. It is near impossible for the Chinese to vote out any Umno candidates as their candidates always stood in Malay majority seats.

In last year's election, Umno loses in some of their traditional strong hold seats due to the swing of the Malay electorates to PAS or PKR candidates. If Umno thinks that it can represents the Chinese community directly by sidelining the MCA, will Najib takes the challenge to stand in Seputeh against Teresa Kok and Umno deputy president Muhyddin Yassin challenges Lim Kit Siang in Ipoh Timur. If they wins, that will surely proves their support and worth amongst the Chinese community. - Loka

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

Power of Tee Keat's prayers

Three months ago I wrote about Ong Tee Keat's prayer beads which he wore on his wrist that provides him with the protection from evil forces. Basing on the development in MCA for the last two weeks, it is obvious his beads is still working well for him.

Some may dismiss this as mere superstitious belief and credit his greater unity plan with Chua Soi Lek to his remarkable political acumens which left his latest political enemies and traitors high and dry. Before anyone declares that it was just another political conflict and manoeuvring, it it necessary to reflect on the statement by MCA Central Committee member Ti Lian Ker who reportedly said there was evilness during the CC meeting on Oct 15. Ong Tee Keat not only managed to protect himself from these evil forces but turn the tables on these evil forces by declaring he will be calling another EGM via his presidential powers.

After getting to see wolves hastily removing their sheep's skin in front of his own eyes, Tee Keat's mind was still in a state calmness to give these pack of wolves a good lesson which earlier were ready to jump onto their biggest prey and devour it. At this stage his positive energy is still enveloping and protecting him from the evil forces but he will need to be more cautious and wiser in determining those who are the real sheeps and those who are actually wolves in sheep's skin.

With more prayers, right thoughts, compassion and faith, may he find solitude and peace in his endeavours. - Loka

Tee Keat-Tiong Lai-Seng Kok's conundrum

The sudden turn of events in MCA after the Oct 10 EGM re-inforced the truth in the old sayings that there are no permanent friends or foes in politics and your greatest enemy is your closest friend.

During the Central Committee(CC) meeting held after the EGM, a group of CC members lead by the newly appointed deputy president Liow Tiong Lai reportedly told Ong Tee Keat to honour his word to resign as president of MCA. Their action was to enable Tiong Lai to take over as president immediately after Tee Keat resigns. The other vice president Kong Cho Ha  is then expected to be appointed to the "vacant" deputy president position. Tee Keat had asked the CC to resign to be collectively responsible for the CC decision to suspend Chua Soi Lek's membership which was rejected by the central delegates in the EGM. The CC declined to resign.

Ong Tee Keat - Liow Tiong Lai - Loh Seng Kok's conundrum

Ong Tee Keat felt betrayed and bitter by the actions of his CC friends and close supporters who turned against him. Even though he did not mentioned any name, it was very clear that he was very sad with the sudden turn around of his strong supporters and friends especially Liow Tiong Lai. Until the the last minute before the EGM, everyone can see that Tiong Lai has been supporting Tee Keat and following him around the country to drummed up support from the central delegates. In an unexpected manoeuvre, Tee Keat uses his presidential constitutional power to call for another EGM to determine whether fresh election should be called for the central committee.

The close relationship between Tee Keat and Tiong Lai can be traced to their MCA Youth days. During the frictions between Team A and Team B, both of them were in the same team, Team B. Tee Keat was then the Youth chief and Tiong Lai, just like Seng Kok, has been in the Youth committee since 1990. As an interim measures to address the contending factions in MCA Youth, Team B's Tiong Lai was appointed MCA Youth Joint Secretary General with Team A's Loh Seng Kok in 2002. During this period, due to Team A and Team B political baggage, it was obvious Tee Keat had a better working relationship with Tiong Lai.

In the 2005 MCA AGM, Tee Keat did not defend his Youth Chief position but stood for the vice presidency instead. He won in a stiff fight and was "promoted" and transferred to the Higher Education Ministry as its deputy Minister in a Cabinet reshuffle in Feb 2006.

During the Oct 2008 MCA election, the then president Ong Ka Ting steps down to take responsibilities for MCA's worst electoral performance in the March 2008 12th General Election when it only managed to win 15 parliamentary seats. Ong Tee Keat was the only MCA candidate to win a parliamentary seat in the state of Selangor which was conquered by the opposition parties. Tee Keat was appointed Transport Minister after the 12th General Election. Tee Keat later stood for the MCA presidential post and beaten former vice president Chua Jui Meng to claim the presidency.


In the 2005 AGM, Tiong Lai offers himself to replace Tee Keat as the Youth Chief while Seng Kok stood for the deputy chairman position. It was during this party election that Tee Keat had endorsed Tiong Lai as his successor and Tiong Lai easily trounced political minnow Song Kee Chai. Tiong Lai subsequently took over the deputy minister position in  the Youth and Sports Ministry vacated by Tee Keat. While Tiong Lai had a smooth ride to be elected Youth chief, Seng Kok faces a tough fight. His political career was jolted when he was beaten to the deputy youth chairman position by Ling Hee Liong, the eldest son of Ling Liong Sik in a four corner fight. It seems that votes from Liow Tiong Lai's supporters was not delivered to Seng Kok as expected but went to his rivals instead. If Seng Kok had won the Youth deputy head position, situation might have been different today.

During the 2008 AGM, Tiong Lai was elected as one of the vice presidents with the second highest number of votes received after Kong Cho Ha. Seng Kok managed to get himself elected as a member of the CC which was dominated by Tee Keat's supporters. While Tiong Lai ascendency to higher political office proceed smoothly after 2005 when he was appointed as a Youth and Sports deputy minister and gained a fast tracked promotion as Health Minister in March 2008, Seng Kok's political career was shaky after his loss in the 2005 party election.

Even though Loh Seng Kok was one of the most hard working and promising Member of Parliament he was dropped as a candidate for the Kelana Jaya constituency which he was first elected in 2004 since he did not hold any senior position in either division, state or national level. After he won a seat in the CC during the 2008 party election he was not given any portfolio in the party structure. To add salt to injury non of the other party bureaus invited him to be a member. At last the head of the Government Policy Monitoring Bureau Chua Soi Lek, also MCA deputy president inducted Seng Kok as a member of his bureau. The involvement in this bureau at least allows him a platform to speak up on governmental issues and kept himself within the media radar. Due to this and other historical Team A factor, it is not surprising for Seng Kok to give his support and place his political future in Chua Soi Lek's camp.

MCA and UKM connection

Liow Tiong Lai and Loh Seng Kok were close friends during their universities days in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in the mid 1980's. Their relationship was fostered through their active participation and leadership in the Chinese Community Committee (CCC) of UKM, a special committee within the UKM Students Union which take care the interest of the Chinese students. The CCC is the main player in the popular "Pesta Tanglung" which was organised annually by the students. The CCC was later "dissolved" by the then UKM Students Union in 1986 but continued to be active via their established networking until today.

It is through the CCC that enables many of the Chinese students in UKM to have close contact with MCA, especially its youth wing. The CCC-MCA relationship was further enhanced when Dr. Ting Chew Peh, an Anthropologist lecturer in UKM was asked to be the MCA candidate in the Gopeng by-election in 1987. The seat was vacated by the then MCA president Tan Koon Swan who was jailed due to criminal breach of trust in relation to the Pan Electric Industries debacle. Tiong Lai who graduated from UKM  in 1986 assisted MCA in the by-election and some of the CCC leaders went to Gopeng to provide moral support to their lecturer.

Some of the CCC leaders from the mid-80s were later recruited as staffs of MCA after their graduation. These leaders includes Liow Tiong Lai, Yu Kee Su and Loh Seng Kok who were later appointed  political secretaries to MCA top guns namely, Lim Ah Lek (Minister of Human Resources), Ting Chew Peh (Minister of Housing and Local Government) and Ling Liong Sik (Minister of Transport) respectively. Yu Kee Su left the political arena  for the private sector after his boss Ting Chew Peh was dropped from the Cabinet in 1999.

The surged of UKM graduates involving in MCA began to evolved and grows in strength beginning in the 1980s through the CCC connection. These graduates even established a MCA branch (Bukit Mewah, Cheras) specifically to enrol graduates from UKM as members. After this early batch of Liow Tiong Lai's group, more and more UKM Chinese graduates began to be directly involved in MCA politics.

The Curse of Health Ministry

It is yet to be seen whether Liow Tiong Lai will be successful in his quest to become the first UKM graduate to assume the presidency of the largest Chinese-based political party in Malaysia. With so much politiking and struggle for power within MCA, no one knows what will happens tomorrow? If Liow Tiong Lai misses his steps while striving towards higher political office, will he succumbed to the curse of the Health Ministership. His immediate predecessors Chua Soi Lek, Chua Jui Meng and even Ong Ka Ting who was one time Acting Minister after Chua Soi Lek resigns, all of them faces their Waterloo when assigned to the ministerial portfolio in the Ministry of Health. Or is it Ministry of Hell?

With events unfolding by the day, will it come to a stage where Ong Tee Keat and Loh Seng Kok from Chua Soi Lek's camp join forces to face the challenges from Liow Tiong Lai's camp? It is only the protagonists and antagonists that will be able to provide answers to this conundrum. We are only spectators in unfolding this chapter of history. - Loka

p/s - When Liow Tiong Lai was first appointed as Health Minister in March 2008, I suggested to his secretary to ask his boss to invite a monk to conduct blessings in his office. I am not sure whether the suggestion was taken up but the signs available so far shows it has not been taken seriously. At this stage of political upheavals in MCA, maybe it's not too late for Tiong Lai to have his blessings before it's too late.

Tee Keat- fight one last round

In the event of any war, there will be those that will suffer the agony of defeat and those who basked in the glory of success. In between them there will be those who will reap the spoils of war. In the history of mankind, war always affects those who are part of it and those innocents who are sacrificed as collateral damage. Some experienced the worst of all and lost everything they had while some will grabbed the opportunity to secure the benefits that would have eluded them if there is no war.

With the widely expected resignation of Ong Tee Keat as MCA's president and the already vacant deputy president position, a floodgate is now opened for all ambitious members of MCA to grab the spoils of the recent EGM.

How wide the floodgate of opportunities will depends on the following scenario.

1. The Central Committee resigns en masse and calls for new election.

This may be the most remote of all possibilities as the risks are too high to be taken especially for those that are alligned or friendly to Ong Tee Keat. This move will be most welcome by Chua Soi Lek and his cohorts as it will be an opportunity to pave the way for him and his people to take a shot to control the party leadership. If it happens, expects an all out fight between the two feuding factions and participation of the third force which so far have not shown the hidden hand behind it. Some old faces and old horses are expected to jump into the band wagon and fight another round for political supremacy.

Who knows Chua Soi Lek might just try his luck and give a shot for the presidency since he knows very well he had at least half of the delegates firmly in his hand who don't mind his sexual indiscretion. With a little bit of manouvering, he might just convinced another 50 third force fence sitters to vote for him. If that happens, his sexual indiscretion will be Najib's problem,  not MCA's nor the Chinese community since only Najib can decide whether to accept an adulterous component leader sitting with him in the Cabinet.

2. Ong Tee Keat resigns and his appointees follow suits.

The president has the right to appoint a number of members in the central committee includes the Secretary General, Treasurer General, Organising Secretary and eight committee members. When he resigns, those appointed by him are obliged to follow suit which will create a long list of vacancies. Assuming two vice presidents, namely Kong Cho Ha and Liow Tiong Lai took over the top two posts, two vacancies will be available in the vice president position.

This situation is similiar to the situation in 2003 when Ling Liong Sik of Team A and Lim Ah Lek of Team B resigns simultaneously as president and deputy president in a peace plan between Team A and Team B. Their vacated positions were filled by then vice presidents Ong Ka Ting and Chan Kong Choy who is from Team A and Team B respectively. The two vacated vice president positions were given to Tan Chai Ho (Team A) and Fu Ah Kiow (Team B). The then Secretary General Ting Chew Peh (Team A) was retained by Ong Ka Ting as goodwill gesture until 2005 when he was replaced by Ka Ting's brother Ong Kah Chuan (Team A) after the party election.

Will Tan Chai Ho and Loh Seng Kok who were the main EGM coordinators for Chua Soi Lek's camp given any senior positions representing the reborn Team A? If the horse trading is based on the 2003 formula, Chai Ho most probably will be rewarded with a VP position while Seng Kok might be in the run for the Organising Secretary or even the Secretary General position if Kong Cho Ha is appointed president for their service to Soi Lek's block. Seng Kok was formerly the MCA Youth Joint Secretary General with Tiong Lai under Youth Chief Ong Tee Keat after the peace plan in 2003.

If Tiong Lai is appointed president, there is no way Seng Kok will be appointed Sec-Gen as trust is wanting in between them even though they were the best of pals during their early days in MCA and as student leaders in UKM. They went separate ways when battle starts between Team A and Team B which was lead by their political mentors Ling Liong Sik and Lim Ah Lek. Both were former political secretaries to their mentors.

Another Chua is expected to be appointed to the Central Committee if those appointed by Tee Keat resigns. He is non other than the son of Chua Soi Lek and MP for Labis Chua Tee Yong.

3. Only Ong Tee Keat resigns

The changes of guard will only affect any two of the four vice presidents but no one should expect the changes to be anything but smooth. Basing on the top two votes secured by Kong Cho Ha and Liow Tiong Lai, it is logical for both of them to climb the party hierachy but the political ambition of Ng Yen Yen should not be discounted. It can be observed that in the run up to the EGM, Ng Yen Yen was clearly non-committal on her support for Ong Tee Keat and also avoids from commenting on Chua Soi Lek's sex acandal even though she was one time the Minister for Family Development and MCA Wanita Chief. It won't be a surprise if efforts is under ways to appoints her as the deputy president. This is the best return from the spoils of the EGM for a politician who has been distancing herself from the decisions of the Presidential Council and also the Central Committee.

4. Ong Tee Keat stays as President

First of all, the MCA Constitution does not requires Ong Tee Keat to resign. In politics everything is possible and the unthinkable can happen. The Central Committee might be successful in convincing Ong Tee Keat to stay on at least until the end of his term and go on leave from his party duty but retain his Transport Minister position. Tee Keat still have unfinished business in sorting out the PKFZ debacle which the public have high expectation for all perpetrators to be hauled up and charged in the court of law. If this happens, either Kong Cho Ha or Liow Tiong Lai will be appointed to fill the vacant deputy president position.

Tee Keat may be a lame duck president but as a minister that starts the ball rolling in cleaning up PKFZ, he must honour his duty to the 27 million Malaysians by leaving no stones unturn in search of the truth behind the fiasco. If he can provide justice and truth to the people, not just MCA members, he will be remembered as a statesman who dares to walk the talk and the courage to face challenges from all corners for the sake of the people. As a man of principle, he may want to be responsible for his leadership in MCA by taking the no confidence vote on  the presidency personally but then he has a bigger responsibility to the people of Malaysia.

He must at least fight for the last one round. Not for him. Not for his central committee. Not for MCA and surely not for BN. But for all Malaysians who uphold the principle of good governance in their beloved nation.

Even if he is down, he can give us a favor to fight this final round as a fellow Malaysian. - Loka

Good and bad followers

After the stalemate results from the Oct 10 EGM, can MCA still able to consolidate and re-invent itself and climb back to its former self before the 308 general election last year?

With the expected departure of Ong Tee Keat from the presidency, can MCA stand up to  the continuous bullying by big brother Umno and or ends up playing just an "extra" in the BN government?

Can green horn cabinet ministers like Liow Tiong Lai and Kong Cho Ha has the capability and courage to lead MCA in the face-offs with Umno.

Not that I don't have confidence in some of the people I know in MCA but the challenge is just too great for any of them to shoulder. They may be very comfortable and capable within their own domain but when it comes to dealing with Umno, many politicians in Umno are just too good and experience for any of the current MCA leaders. Umno politicians from the top leadership to the branch level are known to be able to eat, talk and sleep over politics all the time. There will be politics in everything they do or don't do. Most of the time the observant public wonders what these Umno politicians do for a living other than seeing and breathing politics in everything they do.

But then, all the blame cannot be pushed to Umno alone if MCA leaders can't deliver. It is MCA's delegates themselves which created or to be precise, wants to continue whatever the practice for the last 52 years. Umno fellas gets the contracts from the government, MCA leaders will obtain the sub-contracts and finish the job for their Umno comrades. Both sides will be happy and laughing all the way to the bank. Once, a former political secretary of a disgraced MCA minister gladly acknowledged the need for this "cooperation". From the results of the EGM, it can be deduced that at least half of the MCA delegates is still thinking along the same line which is totally do not synched with the feelings of the people especially the Chinese community they claimed to represents.

When MCA disintegrates, it is not because of their internal squabbles but due to the failure of the MCA delegates to read and win the mind and heart of the Chinese populace in this country. Some of MCA's delegates already forgotten the psychological warfare against the communist in the yesteryears when winning the heart and mind of the people was on the top of the agenda that won the war against the communists during the Emergency years.

The direction of the MCA is not set by the elected leader alone but by the guidance and wisdom of the delegates whom elected the leader. You deserves what you asked for. In any organisation, leaders will come and go, no one is indispensable. The problem is not with Ong Tee Keat or Chua Soi Lek but the people who decides who they want to lead them. If you elect a leader expecting favours, position and awards in return for your support, what is left  of you to take care of the needs of the people that you claimed to represent.

In a democracy, there is no good or lousy leader but there are good and bad followers. A leader, whether good or bad, is elected by the followers. If the leader performs badly, it is because the followers elect him and allows it to happens. If the leader done a great job, it is due to the followers wisdom in giving the person the opportunity to lead. In this aspect, the real leader is actually the followers or delegates who makes the decision to appoints someone to represents them in fulfilling their needs.

Can the MCA delegates/central committee members sees these when they select the next leader to represent and lead them? I am doubtful. - Loka

Fighting for Political Supremacy

There are some characteristics which can be derives from the current battle of political supremacy in the MCA.

A politician worth his or her salt will strive in whatever possible ways to reach the pinnacle of political power. To reach the pinnacle of power, he need to do or undo whatever deems necessary to stay afloat in the political system. Even to the extent of making a choice against one's principle to select between two feuding groups which he does not fully subcribe to their agenda. There is no other way about it.

Firstly, when they is a feud between two conflicting groups, it does not pay if one decided to stay in the middle. Even if one decided to be independent in a feud, the aspiring independent politician will need to create a perception that he is acceptable by either one or both side of the feuding parties. A totally independent individual will be left out of the party political process when all dust settle after a long drawn battle for political supremacy.

Secondly, even if deep inside his heart he wanted to be the party supremo one day, the politician must not tell the whole world that he or she is keen and ready to take over the leadership. An open declaration of one's readiness and eagerness to assume the top political position will attract unnecessary attention and also attacks from other political rivals.

Thirdly, if a politician has the necessary clout and political influence, he or she  uses them as bargaining tools in negotiation with both feuding parties to further his ambition. If he succeeded in playing the horse trading games well, he may ends up getting the top political seat of power in a silver platter, at the expense of both the feuding parties.

Fourthly, a shrewd politician knows that in every crisis there is an opportunity. Whenever another politician more senior than him and other colleagues tumbles, there is a chance for him to climb the political ladder. Another vacancy due to the departure of a senior politician creates a domino vacancies effect all the way down the political command.

Finally, a politician who already does not knows how to do anything else but playing politics will go all the way and with all the means to ensure he or she come out triumphant in the political battle even if he or she has to sell out and betray his friends and comrades. The Machiavellian saying "the means justify the ends" will be the core principle belief of the said politician.

Basing on the current MCA battle for political supremacy, the characters and the players are unveiled before, during and after the emergency general meeting this Saturday. Some of them already shown their true face, the others just waiting for the opportune time. - Loka

MCA fires BN?

Ong Tee Keat is keeping his agenda for the upcoming MCA's EGM close to his heart even as supporters of Dr. Chua Soi Lek is trying to prise open the closely guarded resolutions.

Two of the agendas already expected to be tabled concerns the endorsement on the sacking of deputy president Chua Soi Lek and the Port Klang Free Trade Zone debacle. Another possible resolution on the drafting board will be a vote of confidence on Ong Tee Keat's leadership in relation to the alleged donation of RM10 million by Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd CEO Tiong King Sing.

Basing on Tee Keat's political acumens and straight forward courage for change,  is there a possibility another resolution that will create waves throughout the nation will also be put to the 2400 delegates to vote? The resolution will be similiar to the controversial opinion poll which was conducted in Tee Keat's blog after the 308 Political Tsunami. The opinion poll was taken out from his blog after it became an issue especially amongst Umno's supporters. The poll result shows about 76% of 2,525 respondents are in favour of MCA withdrawing from BN.

It will not be surprising if Tee Keat decides to throw the question on whether MCA should quit Barisan Nasional to the delegates during the EGM. By having the earlier "MCA quits BN" opinion poll in his blog even before his ascendency to the presidency, it reflects his inner feelings to seek direction on the matter.

The obvious lacked of support from his BN Cabinet colleagues on the PKFZ fiasco and the existence of under current which is stacking against him amongst BN members especially those linked to the fiasco will be a point of consideration for him to put the quit BN agenda for debate. With the rumour mills circulating that MCA representation in the Cabinet will be reduced and he himself will be dropped from Najib's Cabinet surely will put more fire in his belly to unleash the first strike before being shown the door.

After fighting and winning his political wars against various opponents in recent years, some of them single handedly, those who expect Ong Tee Keat to throw down his towel and surrender meekly like some of his predecessors will be in for a surprise. - Loka