'I was sacked due to Anybody But Chua movement'

Former MCA central committee member Lee Hwa Beng, who was sacked by the party yesterday, speculates that the fiasco is due to his recently-initiated ‘ABC movement’ (Anybody But Chua Soi Lek) in a bid to topple the party president’s leadership.

Lee said that the ABC movement was started just three days ago, with him contacting division delegates in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Perak.

With this, he lambasted the excuse given by the party that he was sacked because he invited DAP veteran leader Lim Kit Siang for the launching of his book on the Port Klang Free Zone in April last year.

“If it was because of the book launching, he (Chua) should have sacked me a long time ago,” said Lee, who was MCA's three-term Subang Jaya assemblyperson.

In a press conference today, Lee (left) said he was elected as central delegate for the Kelana Jaya MCA division on Sept 22, while he was on an expedition to Mount Everest in Nepal.

“Since I have come back as a central delegate, I told myself (that) I have to go back to MCA to topple Chua, because to me, he is a disgrace not only to MCA but (to) the Chinese community.

“I believe he (Chua) must have known about the news, so he sacked me,” said Lee.

‘I slept very well’

With his trademark humour, Lee claimed that he slept very well last night and was not troubled at all after learning that he had been sacked from the party.

“If you ask whether I’m angry or not, I’m not, but I’m amused that he sacked me.”

“(It’s) because I’m only a small fry. I don’t hold any post, yet he (Chua) feels fit to sack me, so I took (it as an) honour in that I’m somebody, a threat to him,” he quipped.

Lee took to Twitter today to announce that he had been sacked, based on information that he had just received.

Despite not getting any written notice, Lee said it was a waste of time for him to appeal to the party.

“I don’t plan to do so, because Chua Soi Lek definitely will turn it down.

“The main thing is, as long as Chua Soi Lek is president of MCA, I think the party is not worthwhile to go back to,” said Lee.

Asked who would be a suitable to be the party president, Lee answered: “Anybody who fights against Chua Soi Lek.”

As those present at the press conference erupted into laughter, Lee added that anybody could be better than Chua, like deputy president Liow Tiong Lai, former MCA president Ong Tee Keat or central committee member Ong Ka Chuan.

On Chua’s assurance earlier that he would not defend his presidential post in the coming party elections, Lee doubted that.

“He (Chua) announced that right after the election, so as to avoid being forced to resign from the post,” he speculated.

Asked if he would join another political party, Lee said: “I am keeping my political options open.”