Editor’s note: This is the seventh part of a series of excerpts from former health minister and MCA president Chua Soi Lek’s book, 'Like Me or Hate Me: Rising from the Political Ashes'.

BOOK EXCERPT | Although I had decided to retire from active politics after the party elections in December 2013, I felt it was important to use my final months in office to encourage members and provide some parting advice to the new leadership teams that would replace me at both the divisional and national levels.

Batu Pahat division

On 22 September 2013, I chaired the MCA’s Batu Pahat division AGM in my capacity its chairman for the last time. In my opening speech to the members of the division, I thanked all my comrades for their support and cooperation over the previous 28 years that I had served as chairman of the Batu Pahat division.

It was a bittersweet moment. After nearly three decades of service I had formed many close friendships.

Some comrades who were my contemporaries in 1985 when I was first elected chairman of the division were still active committee members. I acknowledged that my achievements were due in no small measure to their unwavering support.

My comrades had stood by me through thick and thin, and I could not ask for more. They were not demanding. Instead, they served the party faithfully and supported me in my political journey without expecting anything in return.

Many colleagues from other divisions were envious and said that I was lucky. This was because in Johor, most divisional chairmen usually did not serve for very long, particularly when a parliamentary or state seat was involved.

In the heyday of the party, divisional MCA leaders frequently faced internal challenges, with many ambitious politicians eyeing the post. And by winning this post they hoped to be nominated as the party’s candidate in the general elections.

After I was elected as the chairman of the Batu Pahat division in 1985, I was challenged for the leadership only once. That was in the 1988 party election. After that I was returned unopposed in all subsequent party elections.

In my parting speech to the division, I reminded the new division chairman, Kang Beng Kuan, as well as his committee members, that the MCA faced difficult times. Members had to be united and work as a team. They should not treat their comrades as the enemy.

The MCA’s enemy was the DAP, which was striving to replace the party in both the state and federal governments. Now that the DAP was at the height of popularity, the MCA had to work harder.

Mentally, party members had to be prepared to face the worst but they should never give up. They should also be sincere towards each other and not promise voters what they could not deliver.

Responsibility of members

It was also important for MCA members to be vocal in articulating local and national issues. They should not fear criticism. Instead, they should be humble and not assume an air of overbearing authority...