Chua appears to be the man in the middle despite quitting the MCA. — File pic
Consultant Editor
KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 — Despite defecting to PKR, Datuk Chua Jui Meng is turning out to be MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat’s best weapon in his battle with arch rival and deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.
Since leaving the party for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s PKR, Chua has singled out Dr Chua for attacks, and has repeatedly urged the government to prosecute his former colleague for having unnatural sex.
“One has to wonder if Chua Jui Meng is working for Tee Keat to attack Dr Chua,” a supporter of the deputy president remarked recently to The Malaysian Insider.
The attacks are in relation to Dr Chua’s sex video scandal, which has resurfaced more than 1½ years since it broke in late 2007, forcing the then health minister to quit all government and party posts.
But last year, Dr Chua made a remarkable comeback, clinching the party’s deputy presidency against all the odds. But in a bitter campaign, Ong and Dr Chua’s ties were damaged beyond repair.
Recently, it was revealed that Dr Chua was being hauled up by the party disciplinary committee over the sex video scandal. He is expected to face the board hearing next week.
Incredibly, the party president has claimed ignorance over the matter, and most party members believe this was another move by Ong to silence his biggest critic and rival.
Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak had hit the roof when he found out about the plan to discipline Dr Chua.
The last thing the Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman wanted was for the man he had just appointed pointman for Pakatan Rakyat (PR) controlled states to be disciplined by his own party over something which happened so long ago.
Ong is said to be unhappy with Dr Chua’s closer ties with Umno, and The Malaysian Insider understands from sources within the president’s camp that he wants to “finish off” his deputy.
The feeling from the Dr Chua camp, it appears, is now mutual.
Persistent attacks from Chua, now in PKR, against Dr Chua, are now raising eyebrows in MCA circles.
Last year, Dr Chua was all set to take on Ong for the party presidency, but Chua’s decision to contest put paid to those hopes.
Dr Chua’s camp felt that the votes among party delegates would be split in such a way that there would be no way he could win the presidency. Eventually, he decided to contest the No. 2 post and won, while Ong defeated Chua for the top post.
Nearly a year later, Chua is once again proving to be a headache for Dr Chua even though he has already left the party.
Chua has also been singing the praises of Ong, and publicly backing the leadership of the MCA president, sparking amazement among many party members who are now openly wondering why he left the party if he was so happy with Ong.
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