The MCA conundrum...
Hey!!! Read about the latest headline news to flood our country? Which one? I’m referring to the changes in the MCA (Malaysian Chinese Association) leadership. Well, to the ‘kataks’ among us, the MCA president, Datuk Seri Dr. Ling Liong Sik and the vice-president Dato’ Seri Lim Ah Lek recently resigned from their respective posts. In addition to that, Dr. Ling also sent in his resignation letter for his position as the Transport Minister. Leaders step down and others take over all the time. So what’s new?
Hahahahhahahahahahha. I agree that it happens but just not in our country. In fact, remember the last time there was a prominent leadership change in the government? That leader is now serving time in a local jail. In Malaysia, leaders come but they just don't go even if they are accused of mishandling state affairs. Anyway…..
What’s my take on this? Before I say anything, just let me reiterate that all my facts were gathered from the local newspapers. I’m just putting together pieces of the puzzle, which has been strewn all over. Who says the local newspapers are just good for wrapping fish at the markets?
The crux of the problem at MCA was the allocation of cabinet seats by the Prime Minister. During the late 90’s, there apparently was a ‘gentlemen’s agreement' between Dato’ Seri Lim and Dr. Ling about Dato’ Seri Lim’s replacement in the cabinet when he stepped down. He wanted his protégé, Datuk Chan Kong Choy, to take over the vacant position. Instead Dr. Ling proposed Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Ting to be appointed as a full minister, which wasn’t part of the agreement. This lead to the formation of the factions of Team A (supporters of Dr. Ling) and Team B (supporters of Datuk Lim) in the MCA. The problem began to fester and ultimately led to the fracas at the MCA Youth Assembly meeting not too long ago.
And then it started getting interesting because the mud slinging propagated and we (the neutral citizens ) were furnished with the juicy bits, which otherwise would have been hidden.
Firstly, MCA’s problem became Barisan Nasional’s problem when BN lost in a by-election, in a constituency that was considered a ‘sure bet’. This was because the Malay votes were split between UMNO and PAS. MCA could have swayed the Chinese voters in their favour if they would only stop bickering among themselves. Then the PM stepped in and brought both sides together to agree to a truce till the next MCA General Assembly in 2005, i.e. all current district, state and national leaders would be reelected by default. It went well till Dr. Ling began to elect members of Team A into the central council (at the expense of the other side of course). Team B’s supporters then began laying some groundwork.
Secondly, things started getting ugly when Dr. Ng Yen Yen was thrown into the fray. Apparently she was a Permanent Resident in Australia when she was sworn in as a senator in Malaysia. Now I ask you, is it appropriate for a person who had sworn allegiance to another country, spent considerable time in that country (u have to fulfill a certain criteria pertaining to length of stay before being awarded PR) and has even sent her child overseas (Australia) to study at a time when the government was trying to promote educational facilities in the country, to be appointed as a member in Malaysia’s upper parliamentary hall? Thank goodness the Dewan Negara is redundant. Imagine the kind of policies our highest lawmakers could have made with that kind of conflict of interest? I don’t know the law very well but is this legal and allowed? The sad truth is that this whole issue was hidden (because everyone in the cabinet and MCA upper echelons knew about it) from us voters. If weren’t for the problem in MCA, we wouldn’t have found out about it. It makes you wish there were problems in UMNO and MIC too, doesn’t it?
So now, realizing the mess was too great to be cleaned up, Dr. Ling tried to buy some time by sending in a resignation letter to Dr. Mahathir, which was not accepted. This happened sometime last year. Surprised? Here’s more…
Thirdly, when MCA tried to buy over Nanyang Siang Pao (a national Chinese daily) against proper judgement (it was and still is debt-ridden) it became a financial problem. As expected, Team B opposed the buy-out but a narrow majority approved it. Then Dato’ Soh Chee Wen, an ex-aide of Dr. Ling who was in self-imposed exile till recently, accused him of reneging on a business deal. This time a foreigner, an Austrian, became involved. He sued Dato’ Soh and Dr. Ling for breaking off a business contract. Only that this time, Dr. Ling’s businessman son was the real culprit but was helped by his dad.
So has anything really happened? Nothing actually. Team A still holds power in the MCA central council. Dr. Ling ensured that before he left. Is there still a factional problem in MCA? Yes, but its been swept under the carpet for the moment. Who’s the biggest loser? Team B. Who’s the biggest winner (if I might call it as such)? The one person who has been wielding his hand behind the scenes trying to strengthen UMNO’s hold on BN. The Prime Minister, of course! In fact part of the peace deal that he brokered between the both ‘warring’ sides called for the resignation of Dr. Ling and Datuk Lim. Talk about forced resignation.(an oxymoron wouldn’t u say so?)
Of course there was this whole ‘stage-show’ when the central committee convened an emergency meeting to persuade Dr. Ling to stay on. How many of you noticed that Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Ting actually had a prepared speech from which he read out to the press? Where did he have the time to type and print it out?Did one of the emergency meeting’s agenda call for the preparation of an acceptance speech for the new president after choosing the new president and vice president of MCA? Or maybe it wasn’t a surprise after all.
This is a more plausible scenario: the PM approves of the new MCA president and vice-president after being advised by Dr. Ling. The central committee convenes meeting to nod in approval. Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Ting checks for typo in his speech. Everyone enjoys a cup of tea and some ‘kuih-muih’ (of which there was an abundance of if you were watching Bulletin Utama). End of meeting-unhappy members (Dr. Chua Jui Meng) drive off quickly to avoid giving contradictory information at the heat of the moment (was also on Bulletin Utama or Ntv7 if you noticed).
Anyway that’s politics for you. Every side has its own dirty linen. But it only makes matters worse, if the dirty linen is not changed even though everyone realizes it is soiled and stinks. That’s what elections are for. You choose a leader you can be proud of and not someone who can give the best defense speech. Never say it’s not your problem because in a democracy, however flawed it is, every vote counts except maybe in Florida, United States. But that’s another story altogether….
posted by Desmond S.D. @ 3:19 PM
2 Comments:
Ven. Phra Piya Thammo,
Rumah Pangsa
Blk A-7-9- Jln Padang Tembak,
11400 Pulau Pinang,
Malaysia
Dear Devotees,
Before I commence of my letter-writing toward. All of you, I would like to inform all of you that I am not satisfy with the lawyer, Dato YIP KUM FOOK due to his bad inspirit impressions because he sent an inspector to come to our Buddhist Temple to arrest me without any good reason, moreover, the lawyer, YIP KUM FOOK is not satisfy with Chief monk.
When the Chief monk had me to go to his Temple already and he went away and left me alone to take care until Chief monk come back to the Temple first and he also told me not to leave the Temple if any committees or the chairman want to chase me out, you don’t leave the Temple at all understand? Then I said, alright? To the chief monk! On the second Day, YIP KUM FOOK came to our Temple and talk to me. He tired to make some inquiry from me and he asked me, where I come from? I told him that I came from Penang.
Then, I told to the lawyer (YIP KUM FOOK) that the chief monk came to Penang and fetch me and invited me to accompany him to go to his temple in K.L. I am not aware that YIP KUM FOOK is not in a good terms with the chief monk, chief monk already in this way, YIP KUM FOOK try to create trouble with me unnecessary. That is why, the lawyer want to chase me out of the Temple. Then I asked the lawyer, why you want to chase me out of the temple? Moreover, the Temple is not belonging to you, UNDERSATAND? Then, I asked him, who are you? I don’t know you at all, you have no right to chase me or control me at all, UNDERSTAND? You are just like a layman only. Do you know the regulations that any the chairman or committee cannot control the monks and the Nuns at all, also UNDERSTAND?
I scolded him like that. Then the lawyer (YIP KUM FOOK) is not satisfy with me and he told me that he will called the police to come to the Temple and arrest me. I told him to go ahead and called the police to come and arrest me. I won’t run away, I said to him like that. I have done nothing wrong toward you, why you want to arrest me? He said, he doesn’t like me to stay here. I asked him, why? Again. After this he got very angry with me, then he phoned up to the police and the police came to the Temple and told me to leave the Temple.
I told to the inspector of the again, 1 am sorry, I won’t leave the Temple because the chief monk had instructed me not to leave the Temple without his consent, UNDERSTAND? Then the inspector told me to leave, again. I told him I cannot leave the Temple because the Chief Monk hasn’t come back yet. This time, the inspector got very angry with me and he took out his handcuff and try to threaten me, then I immediately show off my hands for him to lock me up but he scare, then again, the inspector told me leave the Temple again but I still don’t want to leave the Temple.
Then I phoned up to the chief monk again and I told him that the inspector insisted want to arrest me, you better come back to settle the case for me. After this incident, Chief Monk came back to the Temple and take me to go to another temple and stay their. That’s all about this incidents! Last of all, I would like to inform all of you, that no committees or the chairman can control all the monks and Nuns at all also UNDERSTAND? “They are higher than the King,” also! So how can the laymen, the committees and the chairman to control them: – EVEN THE KING ALSO RESPECTED THE MONKS AND NUNS. Why the chairman doesn’t respect the monks and nuns? They will carry the sins later on, UNDERSTAND?
Yours in Dhamma
Ven. Phra Piya Thammo
Penang, Malaysia
Tel: 04-48272710
This is very bad of Datuk, insulted of Buddhist teachings, may be this Datuk not a Buddhist because his heart so dirty
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