MUAR, July 16 (Bernama) -- Former health minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng tonight resigned as chairman of the Bakri MCA Division which he had helmed since 1988, but dismissed talk that he was also quitting the party to joining the opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
Instead, he urged all committee members of the division to give their undivided support to MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.
"The time has come for me to give way to a younger person. In the history of the MCA, rarely has any chief handed over his post to an opponent after a fierce contest the previous year.
"I have forgiven those who have challenged me in last year's elections. I want them to look ahead. I do not want them to oppose again due to trivial matters," he said at a news conference at the Bakri MCA Division office, here.
Chua had earlier held a closed-door meeting for about an hour with his supporters at the hall of the division office. He had also handed over the post of divisional chairman to the deputy chairman, Sia Ka Tuan.
Replying to questions, Chua said this was not the first time that there had been talk of him joining the opposition.
"At the last general election, I was made an offer to contest as an opposition candidate but I rejected it," he said.
He said that at the meeting with the divisional committee members he had asked them to support Ong whom, he said, he had invited twice to visit the Bakri division.
"By this (resignation), I have acted to reunite the party members," he said, emphasising that his resignation did not mean that he would remain silent.
In the MCA elections last year, Chua lost in his bid for the presidency. He had also lost in his first bid for the post in 2005.
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