MCA peace deal like taking drugs, says Gan

INTERVIEW Taking the developments in MCA to a new high, vice-president Gan Ping Sieu claims that smoking the peace pipe is akin to the act of consuming drugs.

While a peace deal between outgoing president Dr Chua Soi Lek and his deputy Liow Tiong Lai will cement factional fissures, Gan, however, believes that it will make party leaders reliant on such arrangements.

"This is just like...I arrange a post for you and you - it's like taking drugs, you will eventually become more and more reliant (on it)," he said in a recent joint interview with Malaysiakini and KiniTV.

Furthermore, Gan, who is also vying for the president's post, said peace deals are no longer viable in the current political climate and violates core democratic principles.

Revealing the peace deal recently, Chua (right) claimed that it is to ensure smooth transition of power during the party polls next week.

The deal, Chua said, will allow the party to hold its head up, especially when it comes to arranging the four vice president posts and 25 central committee posts.

According to the grapevine, the deal will see two leaders from each faction - Chua's son Tee Yong and Lee Chee Leong, and also Chew Mei Fun and Hou Kok Chung from Liow's camp, will be the vice-presidents.

In addition, Chua's camp will get 13 central committee seats and Liow's (left) faction will get 12.

However, the peace deal is said to exclude the president and deputy president posts, which Liow and MCA Youth chief Wee Ka Siong is respectively vying for.

Asked if he is objecting the deal since he was left out, Gan denied this.

"In principle, whether I'm invited or not, I will tell you that I will still oppose it," he said.

Gan further stressed that a peace deal is not applicable in the current society, which comprises middle class and educated people.

Worse still, he warned that the deal will be perceived as a blow to MCA's dignity.

He said electing party leaders through negotiations may be suitable in the branch and division polls as the locals need a different working module.

But in the central leadership election, Gan said, more than 2,400 central delegates from 191 divisions are eligible to vote and thus, the peace deal violates democratic rule.

Despite facing two heavyweights in the form of Liow and former party president Ong Tee Keat (right), Gan, 47, is optimistic about his chances, saying he has less baggage.

He cited 43-year-old British Labour Party leader Ed Miliband as an example, to stress that young leaders can still call the shots.

Besides, Gan said he did not engage in personal feuds with other MCA leaders and therefore has managed to sidestep factionalism.

"If elected, I want to become a president who is an expert in reuniting members and fighting with external enemies," he said.

Gan, whose political career was moulded by Tee Keat, will now be facing his mentor in the Dec 19 polls.

Quizzed on this, he said Ong should feel glad that his disciple has been outstanding.