MCA may act against Tee
It’s official: Tee signing his appointment documents after taking his oath before the Sultan of Johor.
(The Star) – MCA national organising secretary Datuk Tee Siew Kiong may face action by the party after he was sworn in as a Johor executive councillor despite the party’s decision to abstain from holding any government post.
Tee, who is Pulai Sebatang state assemblyman, took his oath of office in compliance with the command of the Sultan of Johor.
Nonetheless, the party may take disciplinary action against him.
MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek confirmed that the party central committee would deliberate on Tee’s case and he might face disciplinary action.
“I would like to clarify that MCA has not recommended Tee to be a Johor executive councillor in keeping with the party resolution passed in 2011 that it would not accept any government posts,” Dr Chua said in a statement yesterday.
In 2008, MCA won 15 parliamentary and 31 state seats out of 40 parliamentary and 90 state constituencies it contested.
Great honour: Khaled Nordin being sworn in as Mentri Besar by Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar.
In the May 5 elections, the party only won seven parliamentary and 11 state seats.
Dr Chua said: “The Sultan has the power to appoint the Mentri Besar and the state executive councillors because of the uniqueness of the State Constitution.
“It was also the Sultan’s aspiration to have Chinese representation in the state government as I received a call from the Johor Palace’s secretary that the Ruler wanted to appoint Tee as a state executive councillor.”
Dr Chua said he also consulted Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Monday about the royal command, and the Prime Minister advised him to follow it.
He noted that the Rulers of other states had not exercised their authority to appoint MCA elected representatives as executive councillors.
He said there were also some states which had kept vacant state executive councillor posts for Chinese elected representatives.
He appealed to the people and MCA members for understanding of “this unique situation in Johor as well as the Johor Sultan’s power and authority”.
Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Tee would be retained as a state executive councillor even if MCA decides to “disown” him for accepting the position.
“Even if the party disowns him, we will practise what some people have suggested at the federal level and appoint him as an independent or even as a non-governmental organisation head,” he said.
“Tee’s appointment is based on the Johor Sultan’s wishes to see that all communities in the state are represented in the new exco line-up.”
