I had no intentions to put down my thoughts on the on-going public campaign for the presidency of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), due for elections this October, on this blog - lest I be accused of being nosy (okay, maybe a little). Well, that was until I read this article in The Malaysian Insider (which also confirmed UMNO-MCA's master-servant relationship).

Presidential hopeful, Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek declared that Datuk Ong Tee Keat was unfit to lead MCA because he will not speak up to UMNO.

When asked which MCA leader could lead MCA to such reforms, Dr Chua only indicated that Datuk Ong Tee Keat, the only candidate to declare his intentions to run for the party presidency in the October elections would not be capable.

"He is always regarded as a vocal leader but if it is a controversial issue, he tries to avoid it. During the keris incident, where was he?"

Chua commented, referring to Umno youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein's repeated brandishing of the Malay dagger during Umno general assembly meetings.

Ummm... as far as I can remember, Dr Chua was one of MCA's four cabinet ministers in Pak Lah's administration while Ong was a deputy minister. And "during the keris incident, where was he [Dr Chua]?"

The reporter must be commended for daring to ask further.

Asked specifically if [Dr Chua] himself could do it, he refused to answer directly, saying only that "at least I would dare to articulate these concerns."

Ummm... so Dr Chua will at least be vocal about these issues, but he just said that Ong was a 'vocal leader' too! So what's the difference?

Funny, this MCA.

Blog source: YB Tony Pua’s (MP-Petaling Jaya Utara) blog Philosophy, Politics, Economics (21 August, 2008)