Is sex video hurting MCA?
(AP) THE resurfaced sex video showing Dr Chua Soi Lek engaging in illegal sex acts is now threatening to split Malaysia's second-largest party in its ruling coalition.
The infighting is between Malaysian Chinese Association's (MCA's) president Ong Tee Keat and his deputy DrChua.
According to New Straits Times, there is widespread speculation that Dr Chua's supporters are considering calling for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to oust Mr Ong.
It is believed that a motion of no-confidence will be tabled against Mr Ong's leadership for failing to help the party regain support from the community.
Supporters are hoping to capitalise on the animosity between the two men as well as growing discontent on the ground over Mr Ong's 'dictatorial' leadership.
Dr Chua's supporters hope the EGM will pave the way for the former health minister to take over the party leadership.
When the video first went public in 2007, Dr Chua resigned as health minister, and the controversy died.
Dr Chua then staged a surprise comeback, being elected the party's deputy president in October.
But on Feb 13, a houseowner filed a police report after discovering the same video in his maibox.
Even though it was earlier generally acknowledged – and ignored – that Dr Chua had engaged in oral sex, he was not charged when the video first appeared.
But since it resurfaced, police were compelled to investigate him for oral sex – illegal and punishable up to 20 years jail. He was questioned on Monday.
While Dr Chua maintains that he is a victim of a political conspiracy, Mr Ong has refused to back him.
Said Mr Ong, who is also transport minister: 'You think we should support something that is against the law?
'What is there to argue about and blame the whole world except yourself?'
Still, Dr Chua's supporters refuse to back down.
They have accused Mr Ong of sidelining him and shoring up his own support.
One Selangor MCA leader said it was no secret that Mr Ong had been sidelining Dr Chua from national politics.
They cited how, unlike other deputy presidents of the past who headed the disciplinary bureau and at least one state liaison committee, Dr Chua only heads the little-known government policy monitoring bureau.
But other MCA leaders like Negri Sembilan MCA legal bureau chairman Tan Foong Luen, said party delegates must not rally to the support of party leaders who have broken the law or the party would lose its credibility.
Political scientist Ooi Kee Beng of Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore, sees this as a 'start of a very bad fight'.
He said some MCA members may even defect to the opposition, further reducing the narrow parliamentary majority of the coalition.
'One can imagine a scenario where the MCA would split. This would jeopardize the National Front,' he told AP.
