Ong Tee Keat was today finally ousted as MCA president after a tumultuous one-and-a-half year term, which started off with an acrimonious relationship with his deputy, Dr Chua Soi Lek, that later swelled into a full-blown crisis.

 

In a strange twist of fate, Tee Keat was replaced by Chua, who has been campaigning on the slogan of reconciliation and party unity.

Chua fended off a strong challenge by former president Ong Ka Ting, who was edged out by only 68 votes out of the total 2,315 cast.

The results have decidedly sent Ka Ting back into retirement soon after he sought to make a political comeback by contesting the president's post.

 

NONE Party members and central delegates have expressed hopes that fresh elections for the central leadership would put an end to the party's debilitating crisis.

 

Chua's ability to unite the various factions will be tested almost immediately.

 

He now has to contend with his new deputy, Liow Tiong Lai, who openly backed Ka Ting, and what appears to be a hostile central committee, Youth wing and Wanita wing.

 

Though Chua and Liow has never openly crossed swords, the latter was Ka Ting's running mate.

Ka Ting, on his part, has been accused of having played a role in Chua's sex DVD scandal, an accusation which he has repeatedly denied.

 

NONE Additionally, Wanita chief Chew Mei Fun ( far right ) and Youth chief Wee Ka Siong are staunch Liow and Ka Ting supporters.

Chew's disdain for Chua has been apparent.

She had vowed to resign from her party post should the latter win the presidency.

But when pressed by journalists about her quit vow, Chew said she would make her decision after meeting with the Wanita wing’s central committee next week.

“I don't want spoilt the happy occasion today,” she said.

At the central committee level, the majority of 25 newly elected members are aligned to either Ka Ting or Tee Keat.

Chua has 11 loyalist central committee members while 14 are seen to be aligned to Ka Ting (nine) and Tee Keat (five).

But loyalty is a rare commodity in MCA. Thus, some opposing central committee members are expected to declare allegiance with Chua soon in a few rounds of horse trading.

 

Chua's immediate step to placate the various faction leaders would likely involve nominations to the federal cabinet. A minor reshuffle is expected in April.

 

NONE Up for grabs are the post of local government and housing minister, currently held by Kong Chor Ha, who lost his bid for deputy presidency to Liow, and transport minister, currently held by Tee Keat.

Chua’s victory has also put Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in a dilemma as to whether or not the new MCA boss, whose reputation is tainted by a sex scandal, should be included in the cabinet.

 

Will the public accept him?

 

Chua has to maneuver immediately to secure his position as another round of leadership polls has to be called by next year, although it may be postponed for 18 months should there be signals of an impending general election.

 

Though Chua is going to have his hands full in mending party wounds, observers are keen to see how he is received outside the party and, especially, among the Chinese community.

 

NONE Chua made headlines in January 2008 when he admitted to an adulterous affair that was captured in a widely-distributed grainy video footage.

 

It has been speculated that his act of indiscretion will likely not go down well with the grassroots, particularly women voters.

 

Chua’s first major test will come at the Hulu Selangor by-election, where 26 percent of the 60,000 strong electorate are from the Chinese community.

 

Though touted as the election that will end much of the party's problems, the circumstances and evidence points that MCA is definitely not out of the woods yet.