Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang believes that former health minister Dr Chua Soi Lek’s fall from grace was the result of sabotage by rival MCA leaders.

Lim came to this conclusion after piecing together news reports on Chua’s “cryptic but caustic comments” on the government and MCA.

“For instance, he (Chua) pointedly declined to rebut the suggestion that he had been the victim of political assassination,” Lim told a press conference today.

Secondly, he pointed out that Chua reportedly said that the latter had received no less than 200 text-messages condemning certain MCA leaders for the alleged “sting operation”.

“There is no doubt that among the MCA leaders responsible for the sudden demise of Chua’s meteoric political career include person or persons sitting in the MCA presidential council,” said Lim.

The presidential council , in a statement yesterday, said it “regrettably accepted and respected” Chua’s resignation from all government and party posts.

Additionally, the council also called on the authorities to punish those distributing the video depicting Chua’s romp with an unidentified woman in a hotel room.

‘Baloney and hypocrisy’

In response to this, Lim said the council’s position was “baloney and hypocrisy” as the “black hand or mastermind” behind Chua’s downfall was “sitting on the MCA presidential council”.

“Is every member of the MCA presidential council prepared to take a public vow that he or she had nothing to do whatsoever with the plot for the political assassination of Chua?

“(Can they claim that they) had no prior knowledge of it before the four-day political maelstrom which buried Chua’s meteoric political career on the national scene?” he asked.

Asked why he was so confident that MCA leaders were behind Chua’s downfall, Lim replied that no one else had offered other theories.

“For the first time, they (MCA) did not blame other parties - Gerakan, MIC, DAP... if not, then who? Some angel?” said Lim.

Two separate DVD’s containing Chua’s sexual exploits have been making the rounds across Johor and Negeri Sembilan since last week.

Chua publicly admitted that he was the person depicted in the video and apologised to his family and political bosses.

Ka Chuan the next health minister?

On the protracted rumours that Housing and Local Government Minister and MCA president Ong Ka Ting will be made acting health minister, Lim said this is unacceptable.

He stressed that Malaysians deserved a full-time health minister and if one is not picked from the current crop of MCA leaders then a candidate should be chosen from other “non-Umno” BN component parties.

“If the vacancy of health minister is left unfilled, with Ong doubling up as acting health minister, the message to Malaysians is very explicit - that the government and MCA are not concerned about efficient, effective and good governance but only in playing politics in Barisan Nasional,” added Lim.

Currently, there are four likely contenders - Ong Tee Kiat, Donald Lim, Ng Yen Yen and Liow Tiong Lai - for the health minister portfolio which is traditionally reserved for MCA.

Tee Kiat and Donald are the highest ranking within the party among the five, but the two are unlikely to assume the post which Ka Ting will decide on.

Observers have pointed out that Ka Ting does not favour Tee Kiat because of his reputation as a ‘maverick’ while Donald’s chances are slim due to his close links with Chua.

It is possible that Ka Ting would nominate himself as acting health minister to pave the way for his elder brother and MCA secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan ( left ) to assume the post after the next general election.

Presently, Ka Chuan does not hold a parliamentary seat but he can be made a full minister if the prime minister decides to make him a senator or if he can pick up a seat in the upcoming general elections.

Ka Chuan failed to wrest the Batu Gajah parliamentary seat in Perak from DAP's Fong Po Kuan in the 2004 general elections.