I root for Ong TK. Period!

I remember a time way back during my schooldays when a new classmate from an urban elite school was introduced to the rest of the class by our form teacher. Everybody oohed and aaahed at her beauty except for us, the certified lawbenders. We whispered to each other "So here comes the beauty from the best urban school. Well, let's prove that she will be the worst of the best (batch) in this school.". That's how we psyched ourselves to push ourselves to perform the best of our ability during the form 5 exam. True enough, without past year series, reference books, tuitions, extra classes and what not, our batch broke the school record for the best results which is still talked about during school reunions.

The opposite will equally be talked about if someone falls into the "best of the worst". And that is what we will be talking about today and the dubious honour goes to .... 2010 Presidential election. Before you stoned me for this statement, let me make myself perfectly clear. I wish I do not have to coined up the words but apparently since reposrts are be-littling MCA's presidential candidate, that phrase "Best of the worst" comes to mind. Now, let's move on...

One of the three Presidential candidates will be declared winner by the end of 28th March 2010. Honestly, I am picking Ong TK to win the day but news reports are claiming otherwise putting Ong TK as the delegates' underdog although the Merdeka centre pollster indicated that the public prefer Ong TK over the other two...

Why not Ong KT? I will give you my real-life experience when I was part of the team to implement a project. Along the way, our team leader was replaced with other team member and he was devastated. He came to me and lament on what will happen to the project and the direction of the project. His consistent pleading forced me to make a night trip to the capital to meet with the project director to pleads his case. I was naive and inncent, then and I did notknow the reason for my friend's removal from his post. What the Project Director said is simple and has taught me about bench-mark. He simply said "NC, I am surprised by your compradeship and I respect your decision to make a trip here although you barely know me. Do you know that your friends has breach our discipline and has took actions detrimental to our project and our integrity? He has...(listing all the misdeeds) and as such he needs to be replaced. Even that, we are being kind to still allow him to stayback as team member. Nobody is indispensable and things will fall into its places, you will see?. True enough, the project is a success!

Moral of the story? Just let it happen, and problems will be solved in due time. Have anyone seen a country crumbled because the leader is incapicitated? Thus, by choosing to offer himself as a Presidential candidate, Ong KT choose to revert his earlier promise and in doing so has undone what he has promised to do ie to limit the term of an MCA President. Ong KT is by-passing his own promise and this may leads to further unrest and fractionalisation in MCA.

Chua SL is better off as number 2. To be a politician, you must ne thick-skinned and must be able to lie through your teeth. If that can be done then the rest is simple. Chua SL is a fine gentleman. He admitted to his escapades caught on video but that does not stop him from offering himself to be MCA's numero uno.

I am sure Chua Soi Lek read about Jack Purfomo who fell into disgrace with his scandal with Christine Keller. Chua may still remember Bill Clinton and Monica as he may also remember how it is said Sukarno was caught romping in Russia. Those incidents forced the politicians to retire but no, not Chua SL. He admitted that he is the one caught on video and now he is offering himelf to lead MCA. Chua SL is better off defending his number 2 post but when he chose to go for number one, he is exposing MCA to ridicule.

Chua SL has the machinery to pull him through but winning is not everything. Not when Chua SL may be held hostage with his tape. The opposition will jump at the chance to hang him and BN component parties will use his vulnerabilities to bypass MCA. Being number one, that is not a good choice to be.

A top political leader one confided that he too has needs to satisfy his libido but his position stops him. He said that's the sacrifice needed so that he can project a clean image and wins the peoples' trust. Chua SL chose to do it differently and I am not in favour of his move.

That leaves Ong TK. Granted that the 2378 delegates will choose who will leads MCA. Take out the 101 who offers themselves at different post, the rest choose to be team palyers and spectators. Even Wee KS and Yip MF choose to stay in the backroom to campaign for MCA's Brutus.

If none of these 2378 steps forward to take the reins, then MCA has no choice but to retain Ong TK. If 2378 delegates choose to be team players, then be good team players by retaining Ong TK as MCA's numero uno. MCA has nothing else to lose. For the past 50 years, they survived political onslaughts but Ong KT filed the community in 2008 and handing MCA to Ong KT will be like digging MCA's grave.

MCA do not need rebranding nor does it needs re-packaging. Anything with Ong KT's name on it is confirming that MCA is living on the past. What MCAneeds is reformation and the guts to stand up to UMNO. That is what Ong TK is doing and that is the way for MCA to regain their lost ground. Ong TK is paving the way for the Chinese community to return to MCA.

Ong TK may not be the best of the best but at least he is the best of the worst. In time, he will improve and brings MCA to the forefront. The question is - the public has confidence in Ong TK, but will the delegates choose money over responsibility and transperancy? If the 2378 delegates choose patronage, then all is lot for MCA. The choice is in teh hands of 2378 delegates. That choice is not for the 2378 delegates only but it is the voice ob the Chinese community. Will these delegates failed the chinese community and the Malaysians at large, for measly rewards of patronage and money? I leave it to the delegates.

Be known that I remains apolitical but for the benefit of the nation, I choose Ong TK over the other 2. That much is clear and the chances of my choice coming through tomorrow? I will say that it is not good but as long as there is breath, there is hope...
Till then...G'nite M'sia...wherever u are... Read More

Of MCA's presidential election : Win or lose...MCA still lose

LATEST : Superefficient EC declares that Titi Tinggi seat is not vacant. So, for those who have made arrangements to visit Perlis can start cancelling all the rooms reservations...

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UPDATED, Go North, my friend, go north...another by-election on the way? This time Titi Tinggi state seat in Perlis...

The dust settled at 5pm on 22nd March 2010. Just like old cowboy films, three men standing, ready to finish off each other in a gunfight which no one will really wins. But that's the choice made and 28th march 2010 will determine who will rise, who will limp, who will fall, who will ride off...

Ong KT actually spoil my wish list. He is not totally to be blamed as he has to appease his supporters too. So, here we go for what is going to be the MCA's fight and flight of the decade...

Based on reports and if luncheons is the yardstick to gauge the delegates support, Ong KT wins hands down with his 1,000 lunch at Berjaya Time square. As for Ong TK, he wins in terms of having the most boisterous supporters amongst the three Presidential candidates whilst Chua SL implicitly reminds us of Ling Liong Sik's favourite dish - "fish head curry".

If the delegates choose Ong KT as their re-cycled President, then MCA can kiss goodbye to gaining the support of the masses because :-

1. Voting in Ong KT means that the delegates are comfortable with the "old MCA" ie based on patronage and live on UMNO's handouts especially at this crucial stage where MCA did not represent the Chinese voters;
2. Ong KT has no choice but "forced" out of retirement to protect the likes of Ling LS, Chan KC, OC Phang, Wee KS and "their" involvement in PKFZ;
3. Bringing out Ong KT is a lifeline to elder brother Ong KC;
4. Ong KT's alledged relationship with triads may further erode public's confidence in MCA;
5. It will be back to the square one where MCA will kowtow to big brother UMNO for seats in GE 13;

What about Chua SL as MCA's president?

1. Choosing Chua SL will put the entire MCA under UMNO's fingertips. Knowing what UMNO is capable of doing and will do to protect their interest, Chua SL will be an UMNO stooge;
2. If UMNO can do in Anwar Ibrahim (either the charges are true or trumped up), then the same can be done to Chua SL;
3. Chua SL's romping are widely distributed and UMNO can galvanise their youths to make multiple reports against Chua SL turning him into UMNO's obedient servant ;
4. Chua SL may be a good number 2 material and he will definitely will do better if he were to stick to defending his number 2 post;

That brings us back to the third and final candidate, Ong TK. Say what you want of him, he sticks to his "Lone Ranger" approach and his no-nonsense approach fits his Engineering training to a tee. They used to say the Engineers are just like square pegs trying to fit into round holes! The delegates might shun him, BN may hates his guts but he is the public's darling for his exposure on PKFZ. By 28th March 2010, Ong TK may be forced out of his office but he did it in style and dignity. If Ong TK fails to defend his post, it is not his lost but MCA's lost - something that will be irrevocable by GE 13.

Down the line, Liow TL and Kong CH will be fighting out for the number 2 post. On paper, Liow TL may be the preferred candidate due to his association with Ong KT. But, what if Ong KT bites the dust and either Ong TK or Chua SL rule the day? What will be left for Liow TL? He has back-stab his good friend Ong TK and he is also said to be one of he snoop squad members who brings Chua SL's downfall. Can he worked with either of them? What about his "Alphard-gate"? Has the MACC clear him? Even if MACC cleared him, has the delegates cleared him?

Kong CH collected the most votes during the previous VP post. He may be associated with Chua SL but he definitely can work with Ong TK and he has no problem with Ong KT. Being a party man, Kong CH will have a better chance than Liow TL.

Now, let's go for the hypothethecical question. The Presidential election will no doubt fractionalise MCA into at least 3 factions and the winner will not be able to bring home 100 % support. Now, if 2/3 of elected CC members happen to be from the losing candidate, will there be another move to push for another EGM?

MCA was once a great party. How great was MCA? Well, once MCA "helped" UMNO Baru (under Mahathir) to be "re-admitted" into BN in 1988. That was history and that was the time when UMNO "begs" MCA to help them out of their mess. Najib should not have forgotten that because at that time, Najib was one of the Cabinet ministers under Mahathir. That was MCA.

Another if - what will happen to Wee KS and Chew if Ong KT failed to win the President's post? Will they turn renegrades and blast MCA's president for all actions taken?

MCA is indeed in a dilemma - to accept Ong KT means to revert to olden days where favouritism and patronage rules, to support Chua SL means to indirectly admits that there is nothing wrong in being scandalous, to endorse Ong TK means exposing MCA past (and some present) leaders to official scrutiny on wrongdoings. The chice is in the hands of the delegates. Will they be true to their conscious or will they succumb to "golden handshakes"? Better still, why don't all the delegates stay at home and no one cast their votes...that will be interesting, eh...

Till then...G'nite M'sia...wherever u are... Read More

For sale : Brutus of MCA...

Sometimes you have to do some self-promotion to get noticed. What happen if you do not prescribed to that ideas? You will be sidelined, forgotten and worse... you may not be appreciated and let to rot.

What about over-promotion? Will it hurts? The answer - it depends on who you are and whether the public can stomach the over-promotion gimmick or not. Of course, timing plays a vital role in the whole exercise and this leads us to the posting today ... and related to MCA.

The Sun says Tee Keat and Liow may team up again for the coming 28th March party election. Incidentally, the same newspaper wrote Chua - Liow alliance is on the cards to block Ong TK. Both news were postdated on 9th March 2010 and published in The Sun on 10th March 2010.

Looking back at the news, the common denominator is Liow TL. The way I see it is that Liow TL is on self-promotional blitz, sending out signals that he is "available" and looking for the correct suitor. Further, Liow is promoting himself for the No 2 post ie Deputy MCA President.

If this is considered as the "72 golden hours period", then Liow's "for sale" tag is too early. It also confirms the true character of Liow TL - impatient, principle-less, ambitous.

My read? Ong TK and Chua SL will approach Liow TL with ten-foot pole, someone not to be taken in that easily. Consider these :-

1. Chua SL has 40 % support, Ong TK has 30 % whilst Liow (with backing from Chan KC, the other Ong brothers) has the balance 30 %. Technically Liow TL, on his own, has less than 30 % support. If that is the case, why should Ong TK or Chua SL work together with Liow TL who may be binded by his "public secret" backers?;

2. If the Ong brothers go on their own in the fresh elections, then many of the 12 CC members currently aligned with Liow TL will abandon Liow and will openly endorse the Ong brother. What is left in Liow TL then? Is Liow trying to cash in early before the Ong brothers (and Chan KC) deserted him?;

3. Some political observers believed that Ong TK's past 20-year relationship and friendship with Liow TL will be revived for the two to work together. I view it differently as it hurts most when your trusted friend betrays you (read: stabbed you in the back). Does Ong TK has short memories? Is he able to forgive and forget what Liow TL did to him? If Liow TL can do that once, what's stopping Liow TL to do it again in the future, if ever Liow TL becomes Ong's number two?;

4. A source close to Liow said "We have all the ‘chai’ (meaning vegetables; incidentally 'chai' is how Soi Lek’s surname is pronounced in Mandarin), except we have not decided how to cook them,". Liow TL regards Chua SL as vege which can either be toast, fried or steamed. The question is - Will Chua SL allows himself to be tossed whichever way Tiong TL likes? Is that how Tiong TL view Chua SL? As vege ready to be tossed and fried? Will Chua SL allows himself to be degraded to that level by his "Deputy"?;

5. Liow TL is banking on his "integrity and credibility" to match Chua's "strong leadership quality" in his bid to take down Ong TK. Integrity? Credibility? Isn't it Tiong TL who was alledged to be the leader of the snoop squad to bring down Chua SL before? Isn't it Tiong TL who called for Ong TK's resignation? Isn't Tiong TL's ally Wee KS who is now being investigated for his role in PKFZ? If this is "integrity and credibility", I feel sorry for MCA to have him as a leader to the second biggest component party in BN.;
   

Liow has pitched his "assets" to both Ong TK and Chua SL. The question is - will either Ong TK or Chua SL consider taking Liow as his running mate considering the way Liow acted to push off Ong TK down the political cliff and how he tried his best to get Chua SL to back him for an early EGM and party election back in December 2009.

Liow TL may think that he is a "bargain" for both Ong TK and Chua SL. Does he ever realise that both Ong TK and Chua SL may strike a deal and continue with their great unity plan and leave Liow TL behind in his alphard? Liow's "sale" may not be a good sale afterall. In fact, after 28th March 2010, Liow TL may be knocking 1MPM6's doors begging to be retained as the "non-performing" Malaysian health minister...

But not to worry, folks. The "72 golden hours" have not passed and in reality, it may not even have started...yet. Who can predict what happens on 28th March 2010? For now, its Liow TL offering himself "for sale" but comes 28th March, he may finds himself "stale"...

Till then...G'nite M'sia...wherever u are... Read More

Of MCA's presidential turmoil : My wish...

Move aside soap operas. The MCA grand finale of 2010 season is about to start and this time, it might even topped "Who shot JR Ewing?" of Dallas fame.

What happens before is now purely academic. How the EGM result regarding Ong TK's and Chua SL's position as the MCA's President and Deputy President respectively were interpreted and how Liow TL jumped the gun to stake a claim for the MCA's Presidency. The same goes for Liow's demand of immediate fresh elections and how both Ong and Chua's position that the fresh election should be held after CNY. That is past events.

Liow should not take for granted that his 12 CC members' support will be rock solid behind him as Chua may have some hidden cards when he mustered 8 CC members to tender their resignations paving the way for another round of MCA post bearers election now scheduled to be held by March end.

Some reported that Chua Soi Lek is in the commanding lead. Some believed that invisible hands are working on Liow Tiong Lai to wrest the Presidency post. Not many are betting on Ong Tee Keat since they believed that Najib has abandon Ong by stating that the 1MPM6 will not be attendingthe AGM this weekend.

For now, let put that aside and be practical in looking through MCA. Let's assume that there are only 3 major parties fighting for the coveted price ie Ong Tee Keat, Chua Soi Lek and Liow Tiong Lai. My dream move (which borders on naievity) shall be :-

1. Ong Tee Kiat to defend his Presidency post, Chua Soi Lek defending his deputy post whilst Liong Tiong Lai can go for the Presidency as he has the most to lose now;
2. Ong, by virtue that he is the current President, has no viable choice but to defend the post and he need to go then the delegates need to vote him out;
3. Chua Soi Lek, may be a philanderer but that is his personalproblems and his own moral conscious. As such, he too needs to defend his post and let the delegates decide his future;
4. Liow Tiong Lai, exposed as the Brutus in hiding, has not much choice left. Either go for the President's post or the deputy post. In this instance, his choice are not many and I see him going for the number 1 spot;
5. On record, Ong is a lone ranger and I am too and that is why I am rooting for him to defend his post. The reasons for this are quite clear, actually which you will see shortly.
   

Why Ong Tee Keat as MCA's President? I go for records and being pragmatic, Ong :-

1. promised to get to the bottom of things in PKFZ. He is on the way there although that exposed the MCA-UMNO connections and having former MCA stalwarts charged in court;
2. promised and he delivered what he promised;
3. does not mince his words when taking action, regardless of friends or foes;
4. a lone ranger, lone wolf does not need to dish out fvours in return of backing. You support him for what he does not for what he promises;
5. may not conform Chua for his philandering ways but as a team, they show lots of promises and the "dream team" can only function after they remove the brutuses in MCA;
6. is a person that MCA and the Chinese community needs where his tough stance is for the benefit of the people and for that he is earning the wrath of 1MPM6 for not being a "team player";
   

Chua Soi Lek? He's brave enough to admit his mistakes and he should be given his deputy post for :-

1. his admission shows that he is a responsible person. He may have his failures but he did not hide it nor does he takes aggresive action to erase his activities like other. When I mean others, that reminds me of the video girl, the GRO and the international model who has a thing in common - they were murdered and the case, though solved remains fresh in the rakyats' memories;
2. his unwavering support to the President. Yes, both seems despising each other to a point of no return but professionally they know that they each needs the other for their political survivor
3. his case is not the only case. I believed that most of the politicians has something to hide when it comes to the other gender. Heck, some are said to be in relation with a certain thouroughbred "mermaid";
4. he has a wide base support whuch is badly neded to shore up the bruise and battered MCA image;
   

As for Liow Tiong Lai? The least said the better. I, for one hates Brutuses andconsider Brutuses as opportunists who needs to be eliminated from Malaysian political scene.

It's not going to be a smoothride from Ong TK and Chua SL. Ong TK has a subtle message delivered to him when Najib decided to skip attending the scheduled MCA AGM. But knowing Ong TK's style, that will not stop him nor will low him down. And that is what Ong TK need - a public shun from 1MPM6. That will rally the Chinese to his side. This is the time for the Chinese to send a strong message to Najib and UMNO - don't mess with the Chinese.

UMNO an Najib may ride on Chinese for a while but Chinese has long memories. Do you think they will forget the time when Najib threatened them once before? Do you think they will forget what Najib's cousin ie Hishamuddein said with the unsheathed "thingy"? No, they will not gorget and this is the right ime for them to deliver a strong message to Najib - butt out of Chinese affair. That, they will do by putting Ong TK back as MCA's President. Anuthing less will mean that the Chinese are subvervient to UMNO ad Najib. And being subvervient, MCA is as good as pusging the Chinese votes to PR...

That said, I know that I am just hoping for the best but I really do hope for Ong TK to defend and wins his post in MCA. The same to Chua SL. Wishful thinking? Maybe...but as long as I can dream, why not?

Till then...G'nite M'sia...wherever u are... Read More