MCA’s warring kingdoms at a glance
James Wong Wing On
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Although one school of thought opines that MCA’s politics does not matter because it does not affect national policy making or implementation, another school remains passionate about what is going on in the second-largest ruling party in Malaysia, simply because of the sheer number of its membership and size.
Malaysiakini talks to Ding Lee Leong, former head of features at the Chinese-language daily, Nanyang Siang Pau and now a freelance writer, to explore the latest alignments ahead of the MCA elections in mid-August.
Malaysiakini: Since his assumption of the MCA presidency in 2003, Ong Ka Ting has been projected - on a daily basis - in the party-owned media as a ‘hard-working’, ‘socially concerned’, ‘powerful’ and ‘intelligent’ leader of the Chinese Malaysian community. In your observation and opinion, how much do Chinese Malaysians share that perception?
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Ding: We cannot deny that generally those on the ground do share this perception. No one would argue that he is hard-working. The view that he is socially concerned has credence but is not as prevalent. As his predecessor Ling had centralised all power in the president’s hands, Ong is, of course, very powerful.
He plays to the gallery. He really knows the Chinese mentality and makes full use of the media (organisations) that are controlled by him or associated with him to portrait a good image. He is one of the very few political leaders who play the media game well.
He may be a first class political secretary or the best CEO, but he is not a good political leader due to lack of vision and charisma as a leader. On top of that, the ‘Life Long Learning’ project also needs to start economics class immediately to cater to the president’s need. After taking over the leadership’s button for two years, we have yet to see any change or direction. Basically, MCA under his leadership is slowly moving away from the political struggle and becoming like a clan association.
Why is Ong Ka Ting not being challenged by more professionally, academically or intellectually competent senior MCA leaders like sociologist Dr Ting Chew Peh, lawyer Chua Jui Meng or medical doctor Dr Chui Soi Lek?
This is the first party election after Ong Ka Ting was “appointed” the president by former Barisan Nasional chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad. It is still too early to make any conclusion as Ting and Chua have yet to announce their decisions about the coming election. They are still holding their cards close to their chest.
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MCA deputy president Chan Kong Choy has now been officially challenged by former Youth deputy chief Chan Tsu Yuen. What are their respective strengths and weaknesses? In your observation, who will be the likely winner of the deputy presidency?
Chan Kong Choy’s strength is drawn from cautious and smooth political skills. And in a political party like MCA, holding a ministerial post is always a good weapon. He has also engaged people full-time to run a well organised campaign machinery for him.
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The ‘Tan Yee Kew issue’ is being used by opponents to question the integrity of Chan Kong Choy’s leadership. Outside the party, many have questioned his stand on the issue of MCA’s takeover of Nanyang Press (in May 2001). Keeping a low profile and being silent are two different things in politics. In the Number Two or lao er philosophy, keeping silent is important - but being excessively quiet is sometimes tantamount to committing (political) suicide.
Chan Tsu Yuen may cause him some embarrassments but won’t be a real threat to him. But “the destroyer” Chan Tsu Yuen could spoil his party by splitting his former Youth grassroots vote. Many in the party believed that his real challenger has yet to appear. The most possible person is either Ting or Chua.
There is now an upsurge in new challengers to the four elected vice-presidents’ posts currently held by Dr Fong Chan Onn, Chua Jui Meng, Dr Chua Soi Lek and Fu Ah Kiow. The challengers are more or less powerful grassroot leaders like Ong Tee Keat, Tan Chai Ho, Yap Pian Hon and Donald Lim Siang Chai. Why are there suddenly so many people interested in the posts? What are the strengths and weaknesses of these contestants? In your observation, who will most likely emerge as winners?
Currently, there are two sets of name lists being whispered among party members. Those who are in the Federal Territory’s list included Dr Fong Chan Onn, Dr Chua Soi Lek, Tan Chai Ho and Donald Lim. This is very much looking like Ling’s choice. And the other which is claimed to be Ong Ka Ting’s faction includes Dr Chua Soi Lek, Fu Ah Kiow, Ong Tee Keat and a mystery candidate. Many suspect the mystery candidate to be Ong’s brother Kah Chuan. The results of polling will be a good benchmark to evaluate the strength of the three main factions. It is interesting to see that out of the seven veep candidates, none is claimed to be a hardcore supporter of Ong Ka Ting.
Youth chief Ong Tee Keat has announced his intention to contest the vice-presidency and also not to defend the Youth chief’s post. What would happen if he loses the VP race? Would it mean the end of his political career in MCA?
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Obviously, the outspoken Ong Tee Keat and the party president don’t seem to get along well with one another. Judging from the fact that many of the former Team B leader like Dr Tan Yee Kew and Yap Pian Hon have been ‘slaughtered’ at the divisional level, Ong should be able to read his fate even without borrowing the crystals ball from Mahathir. With the ‘winner takes all and loser loses all’ party culture, it would mean the end of a rising political career if Ong Tee Keat loses.
There is now an observation that MCA is factionalised again with four groups, three of which are respectively led by president Ong Ka Ting, deputy Chan Kong Choy and former president Dr Ling Liong Sik and one of which is the ‘wild card’ group comprising less powerful figures like Chan Tsu Yuen.
The peace that MCA enjoys at this moment is just on the surface; the water looks still but the undercurrents are strong. Basically, MCA today had further split into A1, A2, B1 and B2. Gossip and rumours are flying, while smear and whisper campaigns have become common and useful tactics. Ling built a strong base in his 16 years as the president. He is low profile but still very active and very much in control, and it is quite safe to say he at least control 30-40 percent of the votes. It is an open secret that Dr Fong Chan Onn, Dr Chua Soi Lek, Tan Chai Ho, Donald Lim Siang Chai and the list goes on, all remain his faithful believers. But one needs to take note that the 2001 factional list is out of date due to unsatisfied aspirations and power distribution, and that many have shifted camps.
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Chan Kong Choy is said to have ‘betrayed’ his 2003 Team B comrades and reached a personal compromise with Ong Ka Teng’s Team A while leaving his formerly Team B friends like Yap Pian Hon and Dr Tan Yew Kew to be ‘slaughtered’ by the combined effort of Team A1 and A2. How true is this allegation? How would this allegation affect Chan Kong Choy’s political integrity and credibility among MCA’s grassroots members and supporters?
I would not use the word ‘betrayed’, but it is true that many of the Team B comrades have complained that Chan Kong Choy didn’t lend a helping hand. Chan remained extremely quiet during the division’s election. May be, he just kept quiet since he can’t do much or he is trying to avoid the direct conflict with Ong Ka Ting. It is a fact that some of the unhappy Team B comrades have separated from Chan. Many political observers are of the opinion that Chan was the main loser in the preliminary round, as many of his strong supporters were eliminated.
