Dr M hopes MCA members will accept Dr Chua as leader

(Bernama) – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad hopes that the MCA members will accept the election of Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek as party president.

“The members have expressed their choice and I hope that the whole MCA will accept it. The loser must accept it and the victor must also accept the loser as part of the MCA.

“God willing, MCA can run smoothly,” he told reporters after closing the “Bicara Negarawan” programme here.

He was asked to comment on the election results yesterday which resulted in victory for Dr Chua, beating former president Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting and incumbent Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat with a 68-vote majority.

Asked whether the sex scandal which involved Dr Chua would burden the party, he said the decision showed that the party members had put the issue behind them.

“If the members are mature, they have to accept the decision of the majority as in any democracy,” he said.

Asked on the possibility that others may not accept the result in the context of strengthening the party he said: “We may not be able to accept but it’s not our party.”