COMMENT The Prime Minister's announcement of a high-powered task force on the Port Klang Free Trade Zone (PKFZ) has taken the gloss off embattled MCA President Ong Tee Keat's political campaign for survival.

For weeks on end during his nationwide campaigns, Ong had fully plumped what he had described as "internal and external threats" against him, winning much sympathy from both within his party and the public for his display of political will to expose the wrongdoings at the PKFZ .

His detractors and rivals within his party had accused Ong of projecting himself as a hero while the Opposition had exploited the issue by painting the transport minister as a lone soul battling corruption.

NONE Although Prime Minister Najib Razak had rebutted perceptions that his strategic decision was neither to minimise the role of Ong nor his ministerial jurisdiction, he would in reality be conspicuous by his absence as only his representative would be in the task force.

"No, (only) the representatives of the ministry. Don't split, this is a government, we all stand together," the prime minister reportedly told the press when asked if Ong's role has been reduced.

However, some political observers believe that this is a gentle reminder for Ong from the prime minister, who is also Umno president, not to go into overdrive over the PKFZ saga.

Desperate to rid himself of allegations that he had received RM10 million, Ong had countered by accusing his detractors within the party of orchestrating a conspiracy against him in the wake of his deputy Chua Soi Lek's expulsion.

Prolonged battle bad for BN

However, Chua has been showing that he is no mean hand when it comes to a political slugfest as both factions desperately wooed central delegates for two separate extra-ordinary assemblies with opposing resolutions.

Although Ong expressed no regrets in a recent interview with Malaysiakini over Chua's sacking, sentiment exists within Umno top brass that Ong had slipped in his battle for political survival.

NONE Under the prevailing political climate, a protracted battle and a divided component party would be really adding more bad news to an already stricken Barisan Nasional.

Ong's open rejection of any peace solution with his political opponents had also stirred consternation within Umno circles.

Ironically, Ong after his elder daughter Jacqueline's wedding, approached Lim Kok Wing (Founder and President of University Creative Technology), early this July, seeking advice on his party's problems.

A source close to Lim's circles revealed that Ong during his discussion had also requested Lim to convey a message to the prime minister. "Ong wanted Lim to reassure the prime minister that he (Ong) had no intention to rock the BN boat (over his differences with his deputy).

At about that time, the MCA Disciplinary Board (DB) announced that it would hold a hearing on Chua Soi Lek's sex video scandal.

Soft landing advice ignored

The source added, "Lim had advised Ong that it was important for the hearing (DB) to provide a soft landing which could be a reprimand, meaning nothing drastic."

According to the source's claim, two top Umno leaders were aware of the mediation process.

But unlike in the precious mediation process which Lim was also involved, there was no formal letter appointing him as mediator in the latest episode of MCA's internecine bloodletting.

mahathir and rais yatim pc 190309 04 "This was a major difference," the source compared to Lim's 2003 role in mediating between the Ling Liong Sik and Lim Ah Lek factions.

"During the Ling-Lim leadership mediation, former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad appointed Lim as the mediator in writing after securing the mutual agreement of the two ministers and Dr Mahathir then proceeded to give complete support to the mediator (Lim) until success was achieved."

The source also acknowledged that Ong Tee Keat was a difficult person where mediation was concerned as he in always in a "fighting mode".

Lim had conveyed to Ong that Soi Lek did not want a ministerial post. All he wanted back at that time was an appointment (from Ong) to the Johor state chairmanship. Tee Keat refused and counter proposed that the Kelantan state chairmanship be given to Soi Lek instead, the source said.

Adding fuel to PKFZ fire

"Ong did not keep his word and he irritated the prime minister," the source claimed. "To make matters worse, the PKFZ issue was overwhelming Ong with his open statements on threats against him,which had also embarrassed the government.

NONE Instead of either preventing or putting the lid on the escalating bad publicity over PKFZ, Ong added fuel by campaigning on the issue, the source added.

The peace talks eventually collapsed just before the sacking of Chua Soi Lek ,shattering the hope of a close circle of insiders that the agreement to end the squabble was finally in sight.

"In fact, on August 28, Prime Minister Najib Razak expressed his concern over the MCA's leadership crisis and called on the party leadership to resolve the matter quickly through mediation before it caused further damage to the BN, fully aware that Lim Kok Wing was involved in the negotiation process between the two warring parties," he said.

Why did Lim succeed in mediating the Ling-Lim crisis and failed in the Ong-Chua squabble?

This time (Ong-Chua squabbling) turned to be very personal and acrimonious with a third contributing factor, with claims of external involvement and allegations of money changing hands.

"Although the Ling-Lim crisis involved practically the whole party rank and file, the central issue then was focused on which faction should control the party ultimately. Unlike now, the Ong-Chua case is just wrangling between two leaders who cannot see eye-to-eye and refused to get along with each other."

Ong-Chua staring contest

Once Chua was sacked, it was totally impossible to get the two parties to sit down and negotiate.

NONE It reached such a stage that though some leaders were hoping that Ong and Chua could still get together for last minute negotiations but Lim Kok Wing had told his friends that he was not optimistic, said the source.

"It's like a staring competition now (between Ong and Chua), to see who blinks first," the source quoted Lim as describing the current situation.

Why Lim Kok Wing, the mediator? The source said Lim is widely respected in the Chinese community particularly for his entrepreneurial achievements and has the confidence of the top leadership in government.

"Lim is seen as an honest leader who does not seek to collect political debts, besides getting things done for the government.

"Mediating is also a thankless job. When the Ling-Lim leadership crisis was settled, Lim was never even given a thank you dinner let along any public acknowledgement of what he has done to prevent the MCA from breaking up," he said.

But that did not stop him from doing his bit. I believe he (Lim) is currently sorting out the People's Progressive Party (PPP) leadership quarrel right now, the source added.