Battle begins for a bruised but wealthy MCA

(fz.com) – After a disastrous general election outing, the posturing for control of MCA has begun as the party heads for internal polls that begin in June.

 

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has resisted calls for his immediate resignation, insisting that he still has “loose ends” to tie up after MCA’s most devastating general election.

 

On Saturday, MCA’s presidential council unanimously decided that it would commence party elections in June starting with branch level polls and leading up to the national level contest for the party’s top jobs by October.

 

Already, three main factions are moving into place to take control of the central committee and the party’s powerful positions.

 

At present, one faction consists of MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai’s supporters.

 

This group feels strongly that Chua should step down immediately to let Liow take over the mantle.

 

The personable Liow is seen as a more acceptable face for MCA, some say.

 

Party veterans and workers have noted that it was an uphill climb for MCA to showcase its candidates for the general election campaign as the party had been tainted by the memory of Chua’s sex video scandal in early 2008.

 

A second faction consists of supporters of former MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, led by MCA vice-president Gan Ping Sieu.

 

Ong’s faction is calling for immediate party polls where the former Transport Minister is expected to go head-to-head with Liow for the party’s top job.

 

In the last MCA leadership crisis, Ong and Chua were engaged in a bitter spat that ended with Chua defeating Ong and former MCA president Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting for the presidency.

 

Tee Keat is said to be waiting to make a comeback after Chua’s intervention caused Tee Keat to be dropped from defending his Pandan parliamentary seat.

 

Barisan Nasional’s candidate Garry Lim, a local leader chosen by Chua himself, lost the bid to PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli.

 

Gan too was unexpectedly not fielded to contest the Kluang parliamentary seat.

 

Instead, MCA’s Datuk Dr Hou Kok Chung contested the Johor seat but lost to DAP’s Liew Chin Tong.

 

The third faction of Chua’s loyalists is led by secretary-general Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha.

 

This faction is backing Chua to stay on in the presidency during the party’s tumultuous post-general election period.