Grassroots swings for Soi Lek, Tee Keat taps business clout

By Leslie Lau - The Malaysian Insider

Consultant Editor

Ong is trying to raise support from influential business leaders for his looming showdown with Chua. — Picture by Jack Ooi

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 — In the battle for support from party delegates, MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat has the support of national leaders, but he may still end up losing the votes to his bitter rival Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

In just under a week, supporters of Chua have already surpassed the threshold of signatures — 800 or more than a third of national delegates — needed to requisitioned an EGM to topple Ong as MCA presidency.

And many of the delegates supporting the pro-Chua EGM are from divisions aligned to national leaders who have promised votes for Ong.

The Malaysian Insider understands that among the divisions Ong is depending on include those under the control of Youth chief Datuk Wee Ka Siong, central committee member Wee Jeck Seng and vice president Tan Kok Hong.

While party presidents usually have the advantage of incumbency, Ong has only been on the job since last year and does not appear to be entrenched enough yet.

His brash and somewhat aloof manner has also not gained him much grassroots support.

Ong is heavily dependent on national leaders aligned to him right now, along with a close circle of advisers.

A number of businessmen friends Ong has gained since he began his meteoric political rise last year, following the decision of Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting and Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy to retire, are also turning against him.

The most prominent has been Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, the Barisan Nasional backbenchers chief who controls Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB).

KDSB is the turnkey contractor for the scandal-plagued Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) and has been blamed by Ong’s Transport Ministry for the project’s massive cost overruns.

In retaliation, Tiong has made a number of startling disclosures which have badly damaged Ong’s reputation.

Tiong accused Ong of taking a RM10 million cash donation for MCA, which party records show it did not receive. Ong was also forced to admit he took free rides on KDSB’s luxury jets while the company was being probed.

The Malaysian Insider understands that aides to vice president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai — who supports Ong — recently reached out to a prominent Chinese businessman for help.

The business man, who controls public-listed companies and has interests in various property developments, is said to also control up to 100 party delegates. He hasdalso been a major donor to Ong’s political war chest.

But he turned down the request because of a falling out with the MCA president. Instead, his 100 delegates are now likely in the Chua column.

Nevertheless, Ong is understood to still have the backing of another Chinese business tycoon who is known to be a major player in the local capital markets, and who has significant property and hotel interests.

Chua’s supporters comprise mainly grassroots and former national leaders who have been working the ground in recent weeks to collect enough signatures.

A number of leaders once-aligned to Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting and Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik are leading Chua supporters.

So far, Ong has also called for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM), using the powers he has a party president, and today is the deadline to submit the agenda.

Chua’s supporters want no part in Ong’s EGM, and plan to still requisition their own meeting to put forward a vote of no-confidence against Ong.