Saturday, October 24, 2009

Curse of the ‘hell’ minister strikes again

Almost made it. Liow’s rise now appears halted by a once-unthinkable alliance. — Picture by Jack Ooi
















KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 — When Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai stood on the cusp of becoming the new MCA president last week, the buzz in the Chinese media was that he was set to become the first health minister to break an old curse.

Every health minister has seen an untimely end to his political career, so goes the urban legend, and there were many examples to support this. Some people have even called it the “hell” minister post.

The most recent was Liow’s predecessor, Dr Chua Soi Lek, who resigned from all his party and government posts after being exposed in a video sex scandal last year.

But pundits predicted that Liow, 48, would break the jinx.

Many thought MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat would resign and hand over power to Liow last week, after the former lost a vote of no confidence at an extraordinary general meeting (EGM).

That is, until Ong dropped the bombshell that he was staying on, and unexpectedly decided to join forces with his bitter rival and former deputy Dr Chua instead.

Now, a day after the feuding pair declared a truce at a joint press conference, the “hell” minister curse looks to have struck again.

Liow cuts a forlorn figure, even though the MCA leaders all joined hands to take pictures after the press conference. In the past week, the ambitious former youth chief has been painted as a traitor by Ong’s camp. Once a close ally of the president, he is now eyed with caution.

In the days following the EGM, he was said to have formed a faction against Ong and was ready to pressure the president into resigning.

His actions were viewed with disdain by observers, even those who felt that Ong should have stepped down.

“I think he got heady with the prospect of power,” said one MCA source. “But you shouldn’t kick your own man when he’s down. The grassroots didn’t like that.”

Although he denied betraying Ong or forcing him to quit, Liow is now seen as the face of the small “third force” — a group of former leaders who wanted to remove both the two top MCA chiefs and install him as the president.

With Liow are youth chief Wee Ka Siong and women’s wing chief Chew Mei Fun. Both of them were seen as Ong’s close allies as well.

MCA sources said Liow was caught off-guard by Ong, 52, and Dr Chua, 62, coming together.

His faction did not think the two could join forces after a year of fighting — but they did.

To compound his problems, Liow’s deputy presidency is rumoured to be at risk.

The central committee had just voted him as the deputy president last week, but Dr Chua has already applied to Malaysia’s Registrar of Societies (ROS) to be recognised as deputy president.

At the EGM, central delegates had voted to reinstate his membership, and Dr Chua is arguing that this means his deputy presidency should be reinstated as well.

According to a report in mass-selling newspaper Sin Chew Daily yesterday, which quoted unnamed sources, the ROS has accepted this argument and will make the announcement next week.

How Liow reacts to such news, after the recent pledge of unity by all the party leaders, will be closely watched. At the moment, the jinx looks set to take its toll again. — The Straits Times

6 comments:

  1. Understand that the Brutus have not throw in the towel yet! Look like they have strong support from M and H fellow from UMNO.

    They are going for a all out war......

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  2. Seems that CJM say 3rd force from Arm Noor is correct. OTK say Ten Conspiracy Is True , CSL has blessing from PM is acceptable. CSL & M originated from same place why can not work together ? Will it means M helping MCA Brutus Gang ? Why ROS does not give early judiciary on CSL request ? A battle or war will be ?

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  3. Perhaps the Brutus are being supported by the Tiong Gang , not Kerismuddin , because he said if ROS rejects , ask Chua to appeal to him .
    Conspiracy is absolutely correct , very correct .
    As I posted earlier , you are correct they have not thrown in their towel yet , the war is on for they knew they would not be forgiven by the CDs and by Ong and Chua . Eventually they will be disposed like diapers .

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  4. Heard that declaration of war will be announced tomorrow by the Btutus.

    justice4otk, any latest news. I am reloading my gun for further action........

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  5. Refer Monk, suspect Brutus Gang fabricate the sex CDs, annoyed OTK to take action against CSL.Back fire OTK action to KDSB , support CSL in the EGM 1010 , force OTK resign in CC 1015 .... is the plan work like that ? KDSB Boss not support CSL as he always say CSL is a good minister ? Why CSL or his supporters did not ask comments from OTK where the CDs from ,it was first appear in a china news media .

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  6. If Brutus becomes the MCA president, the MCA will be doomed with endless corruption and Tiong's influence. Brutus is definitely pro Arm No. He didn't look very happy with the truce outcome in the picture, hahaha. The previous EGM at least has shown to the MCA delegates and chinese community the existence of the so-called third force. The enemy is the not OTK or CSL, it's the Brutuses within the party who think they can take advantage of the chaotic situation. Well, they are exposed now and they should be despised by the chinese community!

    ReplyDelete

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