Instead of considering the upcoming extraordinary general meeting (EGM) results as a referendum to restore confidence in his leadership, MCA president Ong Tee Keat has converted it into a tussle of leadership between two individuals, said sacked deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek.

chua soi lek interview 061009 chua soi lek 01 In an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini , Chua reasserted that the EGM, which is to take place on Oct 10, is not to reinstate him.

"The objective is how to move forward as a one party. We cannot have a divided MCA, we cannot have a MCA without direction and there are no plans to revive or to consolidate the party," said Chua.

The MCA central committee had revoked Chua's expulsion from the party and instead suspended his membership for four years, thereby hurting his chances of challenging Ong in the next party election due in 2011.

The EGM was called by Chua's supporters in a bid to quash the controversial presidential council's decision on Aug 26 to sack him for causing disrepute to the party over his sex DVD scandal.

EGM to evaluate president

"We seldom have meetings... the MCA the presidential council meeting is the most important and it is held every Tuesday. So from the last party election to now we should have had at least 30 to 40 presidential council meetings... (but) we have had only six meetings," lamented Chua.

He explained that the EGM was simply to review Ong's performance as the president and not to overthrow him.

"What we want to do is to send a message to Ong and to (the future) incoming presidents that if you do not perform well, the MCA central delegates can ask for an EGM to review your performance and that is the significance of an EGM," said Chua.

NONE Denying that there is any personal motive, Chua said the EGM is for a "greater cause" although it may appear specifically targeted at the removal of Ong.

"(However) (Ong) is the president so he is responsible... when BN did not perform well (in the general election last year) the former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took responsibility for it.

Similarly, Ong Ka Ting did not defend his party presidency last year taking the responsibility of MCA's massive losses in the general election.

"That is what democracy is all about in any country when a party does not do well and if he is respectable leader, the first thing he would do is resign.

"If he has done well it is like a referendum on his leadership, if he has done well no way the vote of no confidence will go through, simple as that... we are just giving the central delegates a chance to decide for themselves," said Chua.

Playing DVD issue non-stop

However, he does not deny that the EGM has reduced to a "personality fight" between the leaders.

"You can't blame the Chinese community of not being interested because this fight has become a personality fight which was all started by Ong.

"Even now when he meets delegates he doesn't talk about MCA's performance, he talks about my DVD and that is all he is talking about," he said, adding that the DVD issues has been played up by Ong non-stop since the past year.

NONE Chua added that Ong paints him to be a "tainted person" because of his past mistakes.

"He always feel that I am a tainted politician, not forgetting that he himself is tainted... he is the first president of the MCA to be called up by the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission)," said Chua.

Asked whether the DVD scandal will have a negative impact on his performance if he gains the presidency and whether it will be used against him by Umno, Chua said:

"That is how they spin, if I can't stand up against Umno, Ong who is under investigation by the MACC cannot stand up to Umno as well, worse than me because any minister under investigation needs the blessing from the prime minister quietly and subtly.

My matter resolved

"My case has been resolved. I admitted and I resigned. I discussed it with the former prime minister and the former deputy prime minister.

"If the DVD is a burden to my party, why am I appointed as a BN coordinator in charge of Pakatan Rakyat states? Are you saying (Prime Minister) Najib (Abdul Razak) is not as morally sensitive as Ong?" he asked.

He also said that his situation cannot be compared with the Bagan Pinang by-election candidate Isa Samad, who was once suspended from Umno for involvement in money politics.

"Generally for politicians, people look at how you perform. Isa was chosen because he can deliver the votes. You cannot punish people for their mistakes for life.

"And I hope I will be given a second chance and the central delegates gave me a chance but Ong did not respect their decision.

"The presidency calls for more, we expect more from him (Ong) and not just succumb to personal attacks... he must perform."

A situation Ong brought upon himself

"As I have said, my intention is not to be the president. If I want it I would have gone for the contest last year," said Chua.

It is learned that while Ong and Chua both control around 1,000 votes respectively out of the 2,377 central delegates, the remaining 400 still remain undecided.

azlan The five resolutions tabled in the EGM will be voted on separately, including a no-confidence vote against Ong and a resolution to reinstate Chua.

This combination gives the central delegates two options - choose to keep one out of two or kick both out.

"Last year I had personally informed him that I am not contesting and (that) he is younger and (I believed that) he would be able to perform better.

"But after one year, (there has been) no performance and (the party has) no direction... just slogans," chided Chua.

"So the situation is such that if a vote of no confidence goes through and he steps down then I am the president... I would say that I have become the president because of the circumstance created by Ong himself," he said.

Although he remains calm and refused to speculate on his chances, Chua is confident that that he will be able to garner enough support.

"We called for the EGM on Aug 28 and by Aug 31, we received more than 800 signatures and by the Sept 3 we had 1,250 delegates signed.

"The support has always been there otherwise I would not have been able to get all the delegates to sign. It is not an easy task," said Chua.