Malaysian Mirror
By Paul Sir
By Paul Sir
OPINION DR Chua Soi Lek has made headline news for quite a while now. The on-going MCA saga has put him in the limelight, for good or bad.
But nothing can be more worse for him than the re-surfacing of his sex video. No matter who was responsible for it, that video has put him in the news again in very uncomplimentary fashion.
I wouldn’t say it’s for the wrong reason because to politicians, whether it’s right or wrong, it’s good to get into the news and be talked about.
If a politician is not in the news and not a subject of public discussion now and again, he or she ain’t much of a politician. To most politicians, no news is bad news while it’s the opposite for most of us.
I do not know Chua personally. I recall only two occasions when I had the chance to exchange pleasantries with him at official functions. But friends who know him well describe Chua as a well-meaning guy though not particularly friendly but a highly ambitious politician. There is also a fighting cock inside this politician-doctor.
I believe that Chua would prefer to be the health minister today, spending his time and energy in fighting the H1N1 virus and dengue plaguing the nation rather than fighting for his political survival in the MCA.
Difficult to give up power
By all accounts, Chua was an able health minister. He performed well in his four years in the Cabinet until his sex scandal brought him down. He paid a heavy price for it by resigning from all public and party posts.
Honestly, if I were Dr Chua, I would have retired from politics. After all, he is not young anymore. In his sixties, he could have continued with his public service by getting involved in social and charitable work.
But for politicians who had tasted power, it’s very difficult to give it up. Many had tried to reach the top but only the lucky few would get there.
Chua would love to be the MCA president but he is not. He did not contest against Ong Tee Keat for the party presidency in the MCA election last year when he should have. The other Chua (Chua Jui Meng) from Johore did and wisely for Jui Meng, he left MCA to seek his political fortunes in PKR recently. He knew there was no place and no future left for him in MCA.
I suppose Jui Meng must be a contented man today. He tried to reach the top of his political career by contesting for the MCA presidency, not once but twice. He failed against Ong Ka Ting in 2005 and again, last year against Ong Tee Keat.
I managed to read Jui Meng’s manifesto and found that the man actually had some good plans and programmes for the party and the Chinese community.
Jui Meng can proudly hold up his head high today and say, “It’s not that I didn’t try. I did and I’ve failed. Now, I can leave MCA quietly without regrets”.
Jui Meng moved on well
I find Jui Meng’s political style quite admirable. He remains a friend of the man who defeated him and in one of his last acts as the Bakri MCA division chair, he even invited Ong Tee Keat to officiate at the division’s function.
Whether Jui Meng chose the correct path or not in joining PKR is left to be seen. What is clear, however, is that Jui Meng has moved on. He had wisely untangled himself from the MCA fortress, which had served him well in the past but must have been a little too suffocating for him by now.
But that could not be said of Chua Soi Lek. Unfortunately for Soi Lek, he chose to cross swords with his party president. Unfortunately for him too, Ong Tee Keat is another fighting cock who is ever ready for a bloodbath. We all know what will happen in the end when two fighting cocks meet for a duel. It’s a fight to the finish – only one is left standing.
And to top Soi Lek’s list of misfortunes, he has a heavy baggage – his unforgettable sexual escapade in a Batu Pahat hotel caught on film. How on earth could such a high profile guy be so careless in conducting his private affairs? Honestly, I’m dumbfounded although it’s none of my business.
Shouldn't have 'shitted' at home
It’s an unwritten rule for most men ‘never to ‘shit’ at home’. But Soi Lek was foolish enough to do so in his hometown in Johore. Now, that is literally ‘shitting’ at home.
Of course, Soi Lek is not the only politician involved in extramarital affairs but the difference is that the others were not caught with their pants down.
This ‘baggage’ of his was the MCA disciplinary committee’s top reason for asking Soi Lek to go.
The disciplinary report said the board had "no difficulties" in arriving at its conclusion that Dr Chua could no longer be an asset to the party.
"What the respondent had done in failing to uphold the image and reputation of the party has not only 'haunted' and hurt the party and the government, but is going to continue to 'haunt' and hurt the government in the future, especially in every forthcoming by-election and general election, unless some drastic action is taken by the party," the report explained.
"In short, it is safe to conclude that, for the general Malaysian public, a public figure in Malaysia is expected to behave like a public figure," the report said.
"He cannot be a public figure and enjoy the luxuries of a private person at the same time, and when he is caught, he will not be allowed to defend and excuse himself by saying that it is my private life," it added.
The elusive White House for Edward Kennedy
Ironically, Chua Soi Lek was sacked (now suspended) from the MCA on the day Senator Edward Kennedy breathed his last. Edward could have made it to the White House if not for his ‘baggages’.
But he never fulfilled what many had seen as his political destiny, his White House hopes dashed after his name was tainted by scandal, drinking problems and a messy divorce.
In 1969, he drove off a bridge at Chappaquiddick in Massachusetts, killing a female companion - Mary Jo Kopechne - and leaving the scene of the accident.
The scandal doused his presidential hopes and he subsequently lost the Democratic party nomination to incumbent Jimmy Carter in the 1980 election.
Back home, perhaps the case of former Deputy Parliament Speaker DP Vijandran of the MIC had a similar parallel to Dr Chua’s messy situation. Vijandran faded away from the political scene soon after he was linked to videotaped sexual activities and never made it back again.
Leave unpleasant past behind
To continue whatever his political struggle may be after another major unhappy episode would be too much to ask of Dr Chua. With so many political opponents around, it would be futile for him to attempt a political comeback, either in MCA or other parties.
They will make sure that the public will never forget Dr Chua’s tainted past. Perhaps the good doctor should take note of the statement by Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein who said that “while I empathise with Dr Chua, an offence is still an offence and it is difficult to defend a person who had been found guilty”.
Seriously, Dr Chua should consider retiring from politics. That could be the best route to take in order to move on and leave the unpleasant past behind. There is still life after politics - probably a better one and definitely, a less stressed and happier one.
I believe that Chua would prefer to be the health minister today, spending his time and energy in fighting the H1N1 virus and dengue plaguing the nation rather than fighting for his political survival in the MCA.
Difficult to give up power
By all accounts, Chua was an able health minister. He performed well in his four years in the Cabinet until his sex scandal brought him down. He paid a heavy price for it by resigning from all public and party posts.
Honestly, if I were Dr Chua, I would have retired from politics. After all, he is not young anymore. In his sixties, he could have continued with his public service by getting involved in social and charitable work.
But for politicians who had tasted power, it’s very difficult to give it up. Many had tried to reach the top but only the lucky few would get there.
Chua would love to be the MCA president but he is not. He did not contest against Ong Tee Keat for the party presidency in the MCA election last year when he should have. The other Chua (Chua Jui Meng) from Johore did and wisely for Jui Meng, he left MCA to seek his political fortunes in PKR recently. He knew there was no place and no future left for him in MCA.
I suppose Jui Meng must be a contented man today. He tried to reach the top of his political career by contesting for the MCA presidency, not once but twice. He failed against Ong Ka Ting in 2005 and again, last year against Ong Tee Keat.
I managed to read Jui Meng’s manifesto and found that the man actually had some good plans and programmes for the party and the Chinese community.
Jui Meng can proudly hold up his head high today and say, “It’s not that I didn’t try. I did and I’ve failed. Now, I can leave MCA quietly without regrets”.
Jui Meng moved on well
I find Jui Meng’s political style quite admirable. He remains a friend of the man who defeated him and in one of his last acts as the Bakri MCA division chair, he even invited Ong Tee Keat to officiate at the division’s function.
Whether Jui Meng chose the correct path or not in joining PKR is left to be seen. What is clear, however, is that Jui Meng has moved on. He had wisely untangled himself from the MCA fortress, which had served him well in the past but must have been a little too suffocating for him by now.
But that could not be said of Chua Soi Lek. Unfortunately for Soi Lek, he chose to cross swords with his party president. Unfortunately for him too, Ong Tee Keat is another fighting cock who is ever ready for a bloodbath. We all know what will happen in the end when two fighting cocks meet for a duel. It’s a fight to the finish – only one is left standing.
And to top Soi Lek’s list of misfortunes, he has a heavy baggage – his unforgettable sexual escapade in a Batu Pahat hotel caught on film. How on earth could such a high profile guy be so careless in conducting his private affairs? Honestly, I’m dumbfounded although it’s none of my business.
Shouldn't have 'shitted' at home
It’s an unwritten rule for most men ‘never to ‘shit’ at home’. But Soi Lek was foolish enough to do so in his hometown in Johore. Now, that is literally ‘shitting’ at home.
Of course, Soi Lek is not the only politician involved in extramarital affairs but the difference is that the others were not caught with their pants down.
This ‘baggage’ of his was the MCA disciplinary committee’s top reason for asking Soi Lek to go.
The disciplinary report said the board had "no difficulties" in arriving at its conclusion that Dr Chua could no longer be an asset to the party.
"What the respondent had done in failing to uphold the image and reputation of the party has not only 'haunted' and hurt the party and the government, but is going to continue to 'haunt' and hurt the government in the future, especially in every forthcoming by-election and general election, unless some drastic action is taken by the party," the report explained.
"In short, it is safe to conclude that, for the general Malaysian public, a public figure in Malaysia is expected to behave like a public figure," the report said.
"He cannot be a public figure and enjoy the luxuries of a private person at the same time, and when he is caught, he will not be allowed to defend and excuse himself by saying that it is my private life," it added.
The elusive White House for Edward Kennedy
Ironically, Chua Soi Lek was sacked (now suspended) from the MCA on the day Senator Edward Kennedy breathed his last. Edward could have made it to the White House if not for his ‘baggages’.
But he never fulfilled what many had seen as his political destiny, his White House hopes dashed after his name was tainted by scandal, drinking problems and a messy divorce.
In 1969, he drove off a bridge at Chappaquiddick in Massachusetts, killing a female companion - Mary Jo Kopechne - and leaving the scene of the accident.
The scandal doused his presidential hopes and he subsequently lost the Democratic party nomination to incumbent Jimmy Carter in the 1980 election.
Back home, perhaps the case of former Deputy Parliament Speaker DP Vijandran of the MIC had a similar parallel to Dr Chua’s messy situation. Vijandran faded away from the political scene soon after he was linked to videotaped sexual activities and never made it back again.
Leave unpleasant past behind
To continue whatever his political struggle may be after another major unhappy episode would be too much to ask of Dr Chua. With so many political opponents around, it would be futile for him to attempt a political comeback, either in MCA or other parties.
They will make sure that the public will never forget Dr Chua’s tainted past. Perhaps the good doctor should take note of the statement by Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein who said that “while I empathise with Dr Chua, an offence is still an offence and it is difficult to defend a person who had been found guilty”.
Seriously, Dr Chua should consider retiring from politics. That could be the best route to take in order to move on and leave the unpleasant past behind. There is still life after politics - probably a better one and definitely, a less stressed and happier one.
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