Two MCA leaders,1,000 members quit

Athi Shankar | December 29, 2011

Penang youth chief Eng Hiap Boon and Johor’s Taman Desa Skudai Flat branch deputy James Wu give contrasting reasons for their departure

GEORGE TOWN: Two MCA grassroots leaders on both ends of Peninsular quit the party yesterday and immediately claimed that about 1,000 members have followed suit.

Penang MCA youth chief Eng Hiap Boon and Johor’s Taman Desa Skudai Flat branch deputy chairman James Wu Chee Heng quit the party simultaneously, albeit for different reasons.

While Eng, who joined MCA in 1993, said that the party leadership’s incompetence and malpractice were reasons for his departure, Wu said he was leaving politics for good.

Eng criticised the central committee for not stopping MCA president Chua Soi Lek from ‘wasting’ party funds to purchase a RM3 billion building in Jalan Ampang, KL, two months ago.

“If this is their way of running things, the party would be bankrupt soon,” he told FMT.

He also rebuked Chua for not walking his talk on party unity, claiming the president has consistently backstabbed leaders and members.

Prior to his exit, Eng was MCA national youth exco, Taman Berapit branch youth chief and Barisan Nasional coordinator for Berapit state constituency.

He even claimed that certain party leaders have hired gangsters to threaten his supporters and disrupt his constituency work in Berapit.

“But most importantly, I left because the Chinese community has flatly rejected MCA,” said Eng, who has also resigned as personal assistant to former MCA president Ong Tee Keat.

He claimed 439 members from Bukit Mertajam division have followed him out from the party yesterday and warned the party leadership that more would emulate him soon.

State MCA secretary and Bukit Mertajam division chairman, Lau Chiek Tuan, dismissed Eng claims, saying that his departure was expected given his strong links with Ong.

“Eng’s departure will in fact strengthen the party. We expect more people to join MCA now,” said Lau.

Redundant branches

He added that Eng was not even considered as candidate for the next election given to his below par performance as state party youth chief and BN coordinator.

“He was given several opportunities to perform and deliver. But he failed. He is not party man… more of former president’s man,” said Lau.

Lau said that current Penang MCA youth deputy chief Tan Hing Teik would take over Eng’s position in due course.

Eng flatly denied Lau’s allegations, saying that he had outranked Ong’s party position.

“I’m national youth exco, Ong is only a life member. Why should I follow him?” he asked, insisting that his reason for leaving was due to MCA’s irrelevancy to the Chinese community.

In stark contrast, James Wu, who joined MCA in 1993, did not blame anyone or anything for his departure. “I just want to concentrate on charity works,” he said.

He said that he had thought of quitting MCA two years ago but shelved the idea after being persuaded against it by party colleagues and friends.

“After giving it much thought, I decided to quit and leave politics for good,” said Wu, who was formerly MCA youth wing’s state treasurer and national assistant organising secretary.

Wu claimed that about 500 members from five branches under the Gelang Patah division have followed him out.

His branch aside, the other branches are Taman Desa Skudai, Taman Ulu Choh, Taman Seri Orkid, Bandar Baru Kangkar Pulai.

“Those branches are almost redundant now,” said Wu.