Tee Keat explains his dilemma on Soi Lek's request for a ministerial post

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 23, 2008) : MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat says Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has asked to be recommended for a ministerial post after winning the party No. 2 post.

Disclosing this during an interview with Oriental Daily News two months after the party elections, Ong said Chua's request put him in a spot as the latter's victory in the election did not exonerate him over the sex video scandal.

"I don't want to judge values, I am talking about an objective fact. Under this situation, you tell me, what type of logic should I apply to handle it (Chua's request)?
Ong Tee Keat
"The case of the sex video scandal is still there. Under this circumstance, what kind of wisdom should I use to handle it?"

These questions underline Ong's feeling of helplessness.

On the seeming lack of cooperation between him and Chua, Ong, who exchanged verbal blows in the press with his deputy during the party elections, said in any organisation, there is only one leader.

He said if certain people, owing to their own agenda, choose to take an opposing stand, they have the right to do so but that would only expose their agenda.

He admitted that all the bickerings (with Chua) stemmed from the "ministerial post".
Chua was the one who had kept harping on the ministerial post, he said.

Although by convention, Chua should hold a ministerial post as party No. 2, Ong seems to be holding the the sex video incident, which he deems an undeletable scandal, against him.

He also disclosed that before he took over the party helm, several complaints, including on the sex video incident, were lodged against Chua.

Ong, who was them the vice-president, said he only came to know about it after he took over from former party president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting.

He said the disciplinary cases (against Chua) are still there.

Asked if the party would look into these cases again, Ong said: "Not (whether to) reopen the files (or not), but (we) haven't wrap up the cases. We have to give the complainants an answer."

Pressed further what would the party do, he said he would leave it to the party disciplinary committee to decide.

In a departure from the norms in which the party No. 2 usually heads the disciplinary committee, Ong appointed veteran leader Datuk Ng Cheng Kiat to the post when he announced his party line-up on Nov 18.

Asked if he is not worried that a probe into the cases might result in another party infighting, Ong said the party cannot ignore public opinions or be devoid of basic ideas that conform to the social values framework.

Kong See Hoh
The Sun
23/12/08