The first political move by newly-minted MCA president Ong Tee Keat in selecting his new leadership team was seen as a brazen display of his boldness to create change in the Chinese-based party.

mca agm 181008 ong tee keat victory A Sung dynasty poet by the name of Su Shi (1037-1101) once quipped that "If the emperor and the palace officials cannot get along, the country will surely come to extinction."

Tee Keat has inevitably sprang some major surprises as he made the tough decision to forge new alliances and consolidate his support in what he had aptly described as the "nerve centre" of the party headquarters' machinery.

After weeks of speculations, political pundits have failed to gauge the determination of the party president in instituting changes.

"One MCA party, two controversial leaders - namely Ong Ka Chuan and Dr Chua Soi Lek - and a headache for the president," a party member remarked in jest a week before the public announcement was made at the first central committee meeting yesterday since the Oct 18 party polls.

But most pundits have underestimated Tee Keat's political will in making changes despite being largely untested as a leader.

Curtain falls on Ong dynasty

Ignoring the lobby groups and armed with presidential powers on making appointments, Tee Keat elevated Wong Foon Meng - the current deputy senate president - to the post of secretary-general, replacing Ka Chuan who is relegated to bureau chief in charge of the party's history and documentation.

ong ka ting pc 300805 ong ka chuan While party watchers interpreted the move as formally removing the remaining roots of the "Ong dynasty", others hailed the appointment of Youth vice-chairperson Yoo Wei How, 35 - by far the youngest appointee - to the post of national organising secretary as reflecting a clear direction in future membership recruitment.

"Unlike previously, the situation of a secretary-general undermining the role and efforts of the national organising secretary in manipulating loyalty support, is now removed following this new appointment," a party veteran said.

On a pragmatic political approach, Tee Keat also rejuvenated his power base by promoting three Youth leaders into the mainstream of the leadership line-up. He also appointed Youth national organising secretary Gan Hong Su as deputy to Wei How while incorporating Youth deputy chief Dr Mah Hang Soon as a central committee member.

The president also appointed five new central committee members out of a maximum total of eight: namely, Chor Chee Heung, Tan Jian Joo, Mah Hang Soon, Wong Hock Aun and Gan Hong Su.

Notably, two deputy ministers - Teng Boon Soon and Wee Jeck Seng - were not given any party posts in the line-up. Jeck Seng - who is currently Tanjong Piai MP - and an elected central committee member was the former political secretary to former MCA president Ong Ka Ting.

Some analysts felt that the 'punchiest' move by Tee Keat to consolidate his power base was reflected in the appointments of state chiefs.

The MCA president has decided to lead MCA's bastion state of Johor but certain quarters claim that he is merely following a tradition practised by previous presidents like Dr Ling Liong Sik and Ka Ting who made similar moves.

Soi Lek sidelined

chua soi lek interview 240908 02 His deputy Dr Chua Soi Lek being sidelined in the appointment of state chieftains was a telling sign despite having held the Johor state chairmanship during Ka Ting's tenure before his resignation in January this year following a controversial DVD sex scandal.

In the new line-up, Soi Lek was given a bureau post responsible for monitoring government policies.

Strategising a bigger mandate for party reforms, Tee Keat also positioned his trusted lieutenants as state chieftains, namely Wanita chief Chew Mei Fun (Perlis), former Kedah state treasurer Lim Lye Huat (Kedah), vice-president Liow Tiong Lai (Pulau Pinang), Yeow Chai Thiam (Negeri Sembilan), Hoh Khai Mun (Pahang), Toh Chin Yaw (Trengganu), Ng Yen Yen (Kelantan) and Khoo Keok Hai (Sabah).

mca 2008 2009 state liason chiefs 111108 Youth chief Wee Ka Siong, despite his political home state being Johor, was appointed to Malacca state chairmanship.

The newly appointed party secretary-general Foon Meng was given the additional role as Selangor state chief while Deputy Finance Minister Kong Cho Ha will lead Perak.

For the post of treasurer-general, the president chose senator and corporate leader Tee Hock Seng who is also the Cheras division chairman to replace Lau Ying Pin.

In addition, Hock Seng was also appointed as Federal Territory chairman previously led by Tan Chai Ho, who is currently an elected central committee member.

Hock Seng and his deputy Khoo Keok Hai are expected to play a leading role in managing the party assets worth some RM1.6 billion.

Yet the biggest surprise was the political comeback of former secretary-general Ng Cheng Kiat and former Johor state leader Jimmy Low Boon Hong, who were appointed to the party's disciplinary board as chairman and deputy respectively.

Cheng Kiat opted out of the party mainstream following the Ling Liong Sik-Lee Kim Sai leadership crisis while Jimmy Low Boon Hong retired during Ling's tenure.

The move by Tee Keat in appointing the two veterans caught many by surprise and inevitably raised some eyebrows since the disciplinary board chairman is "traditionally" held by the deputy president though ironically, the party constitution is silent on the matter.

Those closely aligned to the new president claimed that Ling had broken the unwritten precedent when he refused to appoint his former deputy Lim Ah Lek to the disciplinary board chairmanship but instead gave the post to former deputy finance minister Wong See Wah during the 90s.

Party unity remains elusive

Some party critics and doomsayers are already questioning the president's latest leadership appointments, claiming the move would not yield any "political dividends" by sidelining his deputy Soi Lek and former secretary general Ong Ka Chuan.

Tee Keat is also expected to make major changes in the cabinet line-up and pundits would have an easier task in their predictions given the latest political appointments.

mca agm 181008 audience With party unity continuing to be elusive, it can be a threat that derails the best of intentions in party reform.

It is said that "robust grass endures mighty winds and loyal ministers emerge through ordeal".

Tee Keat's appointed newcomers in the team would have little choice but to learn avidly, analyse carefully and put into practice their roles in the coming battlefield.