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news without borders
Who’ll be MCA sec-gen?
analysis by Giam Say Khoon
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
TWENTY-FIVE days after the MCA
central elections on Oct 18, the
newly elected central committee
(CC) members will finally meet
tomorrow to settle party positions.
All eyes will be on president
Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat’s choice of
secretary-general. The president’s
appointee is seen as the third most
powerful official in Malaysia’s
largest Chinese political party.
The party secretary-general
wields much clout as he has access
to party machinery.
Party members will surely
read much into the appointment
– whether Tee Keat is as tough as
his projected image and will do
it his way. The appointment will
also reveal whether he is able to
“rule” freely or from the shadows of
“kingmakers”.
Party insiders say it will be
interesting to see how Tee Keat
comes up with a line-up that is
acceptable to the two other forces of
power brokers – deputy president
Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, and the
Ong brothers, former president Ka
Ting and elder brother Ka Chuan.
“Tee Keat is in a bind. On one
hand, he has to heed the choice
of members and cannot be seen
sidelining Chua and his supporters.
On the other hand, he has to pacify
the Ongs who supported him.
“Not only are party positions
at stake. There are also the
government posts of a minister and
two deputy ministers who lost in
the elections. It simply means the
majority has rejected them and
there must be change,” said a party
central committee member.
Many names have surfaced for
the secretary-general’s post after the
central elections. Among them are
vice-president Datuk Liow Tiong
Lai, incumbent secretary-general Ka
Chuan, incumbent publicity bureau
chief Datuk Fu Ah Kiow and Lee
Wei Kiat who garnered the highest
number of votes in the CC elections.
Party insiders say although Liow
enjoys a good working relationship
Air services to be liberalised: Tee Keat
by Tan Yi Liang
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
KUALA LUMPUR: Air services in the
Asean capitals are to be liberalised from
Jan 1 following the signing of three agree-
ments at the recently concluded Asian
Transport Ministers’ Summit in Manila.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee
Keat revealed yesterday there would be
no limitations on the frequencies, capaci-
ties and the type of aircraft deployed in
providing such services.
“The changes will not only affect pas-
senger flights but also air cargo. We have
set a time frame (for facilitating interstate
transport) from 2005 to 2010,” said Ong,
adding that the levy for transportation of
goods would also be scrapped by 2010.
“Our local transporters have been
asking whether the levy imposed on
our trucks leaving Malaysia or entering
Singapore, which is currently RM200 per
vehicle per trip, and RM100 for laden
trucks entering Malaysia would be re-
moved. In accordance with the spirit and
intent of this agreement, all such levies
would have to go,” he added.
He said the government stood to lose
about RM143 million per year in revenue,
but declined to reveal how the govern-
ment would mitigate the loss.
“You cannot have your cake and eat
it. When we talk about liberalisation, we
talk about air services, maritime services
and land transport, and as a member
theSun
with Tee Keat after going through
“thick and thin” during the MCA
Youth turbulent days, the newly
elected vice-president who is also
the health minister would not have
the time to handle party affairs.
“The secretary-general must be
someone close to the president and
one who can work effectively. Liow
is close (to Tee Keat) but to achieve
a balancing effect, Tee Keat may
still appoint Ka Chuan who lost to
Chua in the deputy presidential
race.
According to Ka Chuan’s aide,
the housing and local government
minister, did not try to lobby for
any party post in the party elections
although rumours had it that his
supporters in Perak have launched
a campaign to pressure Tee Keat to
give him a party post.
“I think he (Ka Chuan) is ready
to accept any decision from Tee
Keat. If Tee Keat wants him to stay
as the secretary-general, he will
accept the offer.”
To a question, the aide said Ka
Chuan did not tender his resignation
for his ministerial post because
there will certainly be a cabinet
reshuffle for the four MCA cabinet
ministers and deputy ministers, “so
it would be better to wait until the
cabinet reshuffle to happen than an
early resignation as none of these
government posts can afford to be
left vacant.”
On Fu’s part, it was believed
he had been asked to hold the
secretary-general’s post but as a
conservative leader, he had rejected.
A party member said although
Fu is capable, he is a traditionalist,
so he is not suitable to be part of the
team if Tee Keat reforms the party.
On Lee, whom vernacular
newspapers have hotly speculated
as Tee Keat’s choice for secretary-
general, party insiders thought
otherwise.
“It is almost certain and better
that he is made the organising
secretary as he is now the
incumbent deputy organising
secretary and seniority-wise, he is
not senior enough to be the third top
leader for the party.”
state of Asean,
we have been
actively involved
in all of this, ” said
Ong.
When asked
about the Sept 24
collision between
two trains on the
Ampang Line at the
Bukit Jalil Station,
Ong said it was the
responsibility of the
relevant director-gen-
erals to issue further
statements and find-
ings to the public.
“I have directed
that in all reports
related to any mishap
or operational matters,
the director-general will be the one
who does any announcement, or issues
any press release,” said Ong.
On his first MCA central committee
(CC) meeting tomorrow, Ong said: “I do
not think it is a long gap (between the
MCA party elections and the inaugural
CC meeting). “So long as it’s within the
first month (after the elections), within
the first 30 days. But that is not a hard
and fast rule.”
Earlier, Ong launched a state-level
health awareness campaign on heart
diseases and diabetes organised by the
local residents’ associations and the
| MONDAY NOVEMBER 10 2008
Another interesting development
in the party is whether Chua, who
made an impressive comeback from
“ground zero” after he was captured
by spy camera in compromising
positions with a woman companion
and exposed early this year, will be
made a cabinet minister or not.
Traditionally, the top three
leaders – the party president, deputy
president and secretary-general
will hold ministerial posts as to
empower them with greater identity
to speak up in the BN council.
However, there were also
exceptions as Tan Sri Lim Ah
Lek did not hold any ministerial
post when he was the deputy
president, so did Ka Chuan before
he was made a minister and former
secretary-general Tan Sri Dr Ting
Chew Peh.
A party member said if Chua is
smart, he should keep a low profile
and not ask for a ministerial post
because if he is seen fighting for a
ministerial post, his image, which
is turning for the better, will be
damaged again.
“He should lie low for at
least two years in building his
relationship with the grassroots
members and play his role as the
deputy president. By doing so,
he can keep an eye on Tee Keat
and if the president does not do
well during this period, Chua will
then have the bargain chips to get
something from Tee Keat.”
It is speculated that the highest-
vote vice-president Datuk Kong Cho
Ha, who is deputy finance minister,
will be appointed by Tee Keat to
replace Ka Chuan as the housing
and local government minister,
while Tee Keat and vice-president
Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen will
remain as the transport minister
and women, community and
development minister respectively.
“There is a rumour that Liow
also wanted to be the housing and
local government minister but
it is unlikely to happen because
the less change the better for the
government as everything is now
on track after the March 8 general
election,” said the party insider.
Tee Keat trying
out the Heimlich
Manoeuvre on a
dummy during the
health awareness
campaign
government in Pandan Perdana.
“This has been a conscious social ini-
tiative, as we emphasise the significance
of awareness and also the dissemination
of information related to healthcare. The
public need to be guided, and they need
to be dispensed with advice from medi-
cal practitioners.
“That is why doctors from the Health
Department are despatched to help
in such campaigns to conduct health
checks. Ultimately, what we want is the
inculcation of a new culture, the reshap-
ing of peoples’ understanding of their
healthcare,” he said.