Political analysts believe that either former MCA deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek or former MCA president Ong Ka Ting or both will take on incumbent president Ong Tee Keat for the party presidency on March 28.

"It's a waiting game now. Both Ka Ting and Chua do not want to be the first to make the announcement as each is waiting for other to declare his position (whether he is going to contest the presidency)," said party central committee member Ti Lian Ker.

ong ka ting mca leaders pc 050808 02 Ti said Chua's plan to contest (the presidency) would be disrupted if Ka Ting ( left ) joined the fray and this he claimed had led to the former health minister to rethink his strategy.

"That is why despite going around attending closed-door briefings, Chua has yet to announce which position he is going to contest," he said.

Another political analyst believes that should Ka Ting enter the fray, it will affect Chua's chances and work against his advantage, although it is said the former deputy president has about 40 a percent support out of the total 2,400 delegates.

 

"If there is a three-cornered fight between Tee Keat, Chua and Ka Ting, it will work in favour of Ka Ting. That's why Chua is not happy about Ka Ting being in the equation," the analyst said.

Chua is said to be not in favour of Ka Ting making a comeback and was quoted yesterday as saying that if Ka Ting decided to contest, ‘it would further split the party’.

Been ‘played out’?

In fact, Ti went a step further by alleging that Ka Ting, together with former MCA deputy president Chan Kong Choy and the most senior MCA central committee member Wong Mook Leong had planned for Ka Ting to make a comeback.

mca agm 2005 opening 200805 lim ah lek He believed that Chua had been "played out" by this group and was not surprised when former MCA deputy president Lim Ah Lek ( right ), who is said to be linked to the group, called on Ka Ting to come out from retirement and re-unite the party.

Calls to Ka Ting, Lim and Wong when unanswered to verify Ti's allegation.

 

However, some of Ka Ting supporters when contacted rubbished Ti's allegation, saying that it was a ‘personal vendetta’ as Ti was dropped in the last general election's party line up.

"These people are worried that should Ka Ting make a comeback, it will be hard for them to defend their posts," said a supporter of Ka Ting who refused to be named.

The possible return of Ka Ting seems to be gaining shape following the Bentong MCA division, which is closely linked to former MCA vice-president Liow Tiong Lai, announcing their support for him.

‘Unify dissenting voices’

The division's deputy chief Wong Choo Yak said they favoured a Ka Ting-Tiong Lai combination in the presidential race. The division's chief is Hoh Khai Mun, who is also Pahang MCA chairperson and a strong supporter of Liow.

mca anniversary dinner ong tee keat speech "He (Ka Ting) has the experience and the mettle to hold the party together. During his tenure as president, he managed to unify dissenting voices in the interest of strengthening the party.

 

"We are also fully behind Bentong MP Liow Tiong Lai. He has a free hand to contest in any position he chooses," said Wong.

However, whoever his challenger will be, Tee Keat ( above ) remains unfazed with the latest developments.

"I remain undeterred by whatever the developments may be. All members are eligible to seek a mandate from the delegates. Whether it is a past leader or current leader, again, I'm not too concerned about it," he said.

– Bernama