G'kan snipes back at MCA over Kepong seat row

The verbal fisticuffs between BN component parties MCA and Gerakan appear to be escalating, with the latter now calling MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek “uncouth” in the tussle over who gets to contest in Kepong in the next general election.

Ong Thean Lye, political secretary to Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon (right) has come to his boss' defence over Chua's earlier statement attacking Koh over the seat traditionally belonging to Gerakan.

“Dr Chua should look before shooting and check his facts and chronology of events, before shooting his mouth off especially at fellow BN component leaders,” said Ong in a statement.

The debacle erupted on Saturday when the Kepong Umno division chief Rizuan Hamid said that MCA should contest in the seat instead of Gerakan, since the latter had never won a once since they first contested in 1975.

Koh retaliated that it was improper for any component party to demand for seats and that Rizuan should have voiced his concerns through party channels instead.

Chua joined the fray yesterday calling his Gerakan counterpart “gutless” for “insinuating that MCA was trying to get additional seats for themselves through Umno”.

'Chua thanked Umno'

Ong, who is also the Gerakan central committee member, today pointed out that Chua himself was quick to thank Umno Kepong profusely for the suggestion regarding the seat.

“If Chua (left) cared to check, he would have noticed that Koh first strongly criticised Rizuan, on openly proposing for MCA to take over the Kepong seat from Gerakan. Koh only targeted Umno, without even mentioning MCA at all,” said Ong.

“It is only after Chua himself profusely thanked Umno Kepong, as reported in the media on 13 February, that Koh, in response to media query on the same day, said that it's not right for Chua to put open pressure on Gerakan through Umno.”

“More importantly, Koh has always emphasised that seat allocation should be discussed amongst component leaders and with the prime minister, but not openly. Chua said the same, but, by gleefully thanking Umno and saying that MCA is ready to take over Kepong, Chua is not practising what he preaches.

“Therefore, Koh didn't jump to conclusions, as alleged by Chua. It was Chua who first jumped with joy on Rizuan's comment,” said Ong.

He also reminded Chua that Koh openly defended the MCA president in early December last year, when the latter was under attack from several top Umno leaders in response to his 'junior partner' speech at the BN Convention.

The Kepong seat in Kuala Lumpur is currently a DAP stronghold, with MP Tan Seng Giaw (right) holding the seat for seven consecutive terms since 1982, making him one of the longest serving MPs in the country.