Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat & Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek Unite = United MCA.

“Datuk Seri Ong Tee keat and Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek set aside differences for the sake of party” reports TheStar Online.

The amicable resolution of disputes between Datuk Seri Ong Tee keat and Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek is most welcome as it has a national impact via MCA. Since this morning, I have received calls and at least 12 smses saying that the peaceful closing of ranks was good. Two of the calls were from my friends in the Chinese clan societies.

Outside of MCA, OTK, as he is popularly known, is seen as a people’s leader. He is seen as forthright, transparent, principled and courageous – taking up challenges which many politicians will rather avoid. His quest in pushing ahead with the PKFZ issue is respected by most thinking citizens. In the heights of the problem between Dr Cua and OTK, Dr Chua reportedly said the following:

“The way I look at it, PKFZ is a problem that needs to get resolved but Tee Keat is projecting himself as a hero. A lot of people are involved in the problem, and since it is a transport issue, MCA ministers are also involved. But that does not mean the party is involved”.

The point is, PKFZ is potentially “hot” and dangerous for any MCA politician to handle and yet OTK proceeded with it because he is serious in reforming the way MCA works.

There are already rumours that possibly his quest against PKFZ is possibly one of the reasons why there were “sinister moves” to oust him from MCA, the EGM notwithstanding. Such a rumour does not hold well for MCA because as Dr Chua was reported to have rightly pointed out, there is no use being members of a party if they lose the election. This is a practical political approach.

Again to quote Dr Chua, “politics is the art of making the possible, impossible and making the impossible, possible” or something to that effect. Dr Chua, being a seasoned politician knows exactly what he is saying.

Putting aside, Dr Chua’s unfortunate past event which he has admitted and apologized in public, he had garnered enough support from MCA delegates to demonstrate that he is relevant and needed by the party. Dr Chua, for many years has been seen as a grass root leader who works hard and has capability. This entire MCA “crisis will surely show the political influence that Dr Chua still wields in the party. His willingness therefore to reconcile is definitely gentlemanly and n the interest of the party.

I do not have much to say about the MCA central committee members who dramatically renegade on their support to OTK at the height of the crisis. This matter correctly should be left to the judgement of the MCA members and their delegates.

If OTK and Dr Chua really work together for the betterment of MCA, it is likely that MCA may emerge as the strongest component of BN as UMNO still has quite a bit of work to do internally as well as on its public perception of patronage, cronyism and umnoputraism.

As I have written before, I see OTK as a leader with a truly multi racial outlook while safeguarding the interests of the Chinese community. This will be consistent with the current UMNO leadership who are also moving towards that direction publicly. Further, this resolution of the crisis will earn the respect of the other component parties. OTK too must weigh his public pledge to resign against the larger demands of the general public who would like him to continue serving as the MCA president. The political climate does not allow for egos. OTK should do the right thing and remain as president to reform the MCA for the betterment of Malaysian political climate. Dr Chua, with his huge grass root following should be properly utilized too.

Peace !