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Categories
| MCA crisis: More than meets the eye |
| Politics & Government 2009 | |||
| Written by Chan Kok Leong | |||
| Monday, 02 November 2009 23:35 | |||
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"What has Ong done which is so bad that he has to go?" asked Phang, who spoke as the Social Care Foundation chairman. "And which politician has never resorted to pulling the odd political stunt?" he asked again, in reference to Ong's bold "pledge" to quit if he lost the no-confidence vote by even one vote. Phang, who also sits on the boards of Transparency International Malaysia and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, likened Ong's "stunt" to former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's pledge to "sink or swim" with Datuk Harris Salleh's Parti Berjaya Sabah in 1985. Although Berjaya lost in the Sabah state election that year, Barisan Nasional (BN) did not "sink" and the Sabah party lost its federal ministerial positions, said Phang. "So, every politician attempts a stunt every now and then," he concluded. Ong's greatest "error", according to Phang, was that he wanted to ensure that every wrongly spent ringgit in the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal would be returned to the people. "I spoke to him on two occasions. The first time was during his holiday after the Oct 10 extraordinary general meeting when Ong was in Bangkok, and last Saturday," said Phang. "According to Ong, he wants to stay because he cannot let go of PKFZ and he cannot see how or who the MCA baton can be passed to." Once Ong had completed his missions, he would leave in 2011, said Phang, without giving any assurances. Phang said he queried the MCA president on this and how he could have made the mistake of using Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd's private planes for free. "Ong said that the first trip was arranged by Wee (Ka Siong), although the subsequent four were arranged by his bodyguard," said Phang. But during the course of the hour-long press conference, Phang let slip another intriguing piece of conversation he had with one of Ong's protagonists, Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, the MCA Youth chief. "Wee called me while he was in Geneva two weeks ago and said that it is not his intention to force Ong to resign. I even had breakfast with him last Monday where he said he did not intend to force the president down. "But that afternoon, in parliament, Wee said something different," said Phang. According to Phang, he had asked Wee about the plane rides, to which the latter admitted to having "arranged" the maiden ride. Linking this with Gerakan Penang chief Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan's suggestion that Sri Gading MP Datuk Mohamed Aziz's call for Ong and Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon to leave the cabinet was prompted by an agenda, Phang said something sinister "was developing". Phang also let slip that Wee, who holds a PhD in transportation, would be the most "qualified" to take over from Ong if the latter quit his position. During the press conference, Phang urged Wee and Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun to quit their positions if they continued to criticise Ong. "When Ong promised to quit along with the presidential council and central committee if he lost the no-confidence vote, nobody said anything. "After he had lost, 'they' are asking him to leave. What about them? Aren't they obliged to quit too?" If, at all, the greater unity plan (GUP) should be deliberated, it should involve other Chinese NGO stakeholders, said Phang. "It should not be left to 2,500 delegates who can be easily convinced. "Ong's critics should hold a public forum involving other Chinese community leaders to deliberate on the merits of the unity plan." The outspoken NGO leader said he backed Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek's proposal to give the GUP six to 12 months before it is re-evaluated. "With him supporting the GUP, I don't see how it can fail," Phang added.
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