Saturday, October 24, 2009

A Lesson for Brutus(es) in MCA

OPINION THE following is a true account of a conversation I had with a taxi driver in Kuala Lumpur last Tuesday. Well, he was doing most of the talking and I, the listening.

I think the cabbie who must be about 60 years old is a very politically conscious guy and, an opinionated one too. I pretended I know nothing about politics but only threw in little comments just to prod him on.

julius-caesar.jpgAnd the man was on fire with his language! He was very expressive about how he feels on certain issues. As a Chinese, MCA politics was naturally his topic of the day – as it has been in the Chinese papers throughout this past week.

At the end of the 40-minute ride in the taxi, I have a full account about what’s going on in the MCA. He was particularly upset with the recent episode of betrayal by some of MCA president Ong Tee Keat’s ‘closest people’.

Such characters MCA can do without

On his list of Brutus(es) were vice-president Liow Tiong Lai, Youth chief Wee Ka Siong and Wanita leader Chew Mei Fun.

He was particularly very hard hitting on Liow. “We don’t need that kind of characters in the MCA. If one day, Liow really becomes president, it’s possible he may even sell the MCA to the highest bidder.

“What is this? Ong trusted Liow all along but once Ong is in trouble, he will create more trouble for him. Worse, Liow wants to take over as president through the back door which is wrong.

“Ong Tee Keat made a big mistake in trusting such friends. When you have such people as friends, who need enemies?” he added.

The cabbie, who called himself Ah Khoon, said he would prefer Ong or even Dr Chua Soi Lek any time to helm the MCA but not a betrayer like Liow or any member of his gang.

When I asked who he thinks is the best man to lead MCA at the moment, he mentioned “Datuk Lim Ah Lek” (former deputy president) without hesitation.

lim-ah-lek.jpgWhy? “Lim Ah Lek is the ‘cleanest’ MCA leader around. He may be getting on in years but MCA needs a personality like him today. I believe he will reform the party, starting with ridding it of selfish leaders who are in the MCA only to promote their own interests. And there are many such people in the party today.

“After Lim, I would go for Ong Tee Keat. He is a tough nut to crack, a straight talker with a mind of his own. MCA can do with a gung-ho president like him for a change from all the ‘yes men’ who were party presidents previously.

Ah Khoon added that he found no fault with Ong Tee Keat yet so far in his first year as MCA president.

"Perhaps his only mistake was being too trusting and not noticing the would-be betrayers lurking around him," he said.

Asked whom he would like to see as Ong’s successor, he replied, “Like others, I thought Liow Tiong Lai is a good choice. But after what he did this week, he is definitely out.

“Honestly, I cannot think of a name from the current crop of MCA leaders as a possible successor to Ong. Somehow, I don’t trust many of them,” he added.

Take note, Tiong Lai

If I were a politician, I will pay attention to what the men in the street (like Ah Khoon the cabbie) have to say. These are the people on the ground and they form a sizable number of voters who can break or make a politician at the polls.

Liow Tiong Lai, the overly ambitious guy who is prepared to betray his boss in order to get what he wants, could do well to take heed of Ah Khoon’s conversation with me.

No matter what you say about your plans for the betterment of MCA, Tiong Lai, your attempt at betraying the party president has not gone down well with the grassroots. I think even your supporters and voters (if they have a conscience) in Bentong will not be able to tolerate what you have done.

So start nursing this ‘political ailment’ of yours and beef up your ‘political health’, Mr Health Minister.

But as the MCA drama played out on Thursday, Ong Tee Keat’s gang of betrayers was out-manouvered by Ong and his group who stuck with him.

We can all rejoice that the plot hatched by the ‘Brutus(es)’ to oust Ong has been thwarted. And Ah Khoon the cabbie must be a very happy man too.

So is the desire by Ong and Chua to patch up for real? How are they going to go about it?

This is best answered by Dr Chua himself when he told reporters on Thursday that “politics is about making the possible impossible and also the impossible possible”.

PAUL SIR is a columnist with The Borneo Post. His article is reproduced here with permission. He can be reached at paulsir99@hotmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

18 comments:

  1. LTL, WKS AND CMF ; OUST AS STATE LIAISON CHAIRMAN. wondering what will happen to this youth & wanita head?

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  2. Youth and Wanita head ? nothing can be done until the next party election .

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  3. Brutus must be sacrificed on the altar of politics. Only Brutus's blood can wash the smell of shame, treachery and dishonour from MCA. This ritual must be done.

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  4. Watch out for Ong Ka Chuan.

    How would you feel if you hear the news of "Malay man raping Chinese woman" ?

    How would you feel if there is a "Chinese Hero" who rescued that "Chinese rape victim" ?

    Ong Ka Chuan happens to be that "Chinese Hero".

    A staged act or mere coincidence?

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  5. We chinese show no support to brutus or his gang. Why other people look down at us if we have 5000 years of widsom & culture ? We have conficus & chou chow , they are great & bad man, but they are not Brutus ! Why we still can tolerate Brutus in our society, the TAXI DRIVER is corect ! correct ! correct ! We hope we can have a new blog for Brutus and we can Black List them.

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  6. Justice For All10/24/2009 01:58:00 PM

    justice4otk I would like to congrat you for this blog as this is one of the avenues that I could gain insights and share my 2 cent worth idea with all of you.
    Yes, LTL and his friends have a lot to reflect and hope the uncalled for events in the pre-during--post EGM have enlightened them about comradeship - never ever abandon your leader who is wounded. Have the courage to meet OTK and CSL to clear all the misgivings. Unite and move on to make MCA relevant in today Malaysian politics.
    Much negative energy has been wasted and I hope that everyone could share some positive and constructive input to transform MCA into a strong and effective political party.
    Just to share:-
    "By not letting your mind be polluted by evil thoughts towards the person who has wronged or hurt you. The anger you harbour in your mind does you more damage than to the other person. Therefore, cultivate a life of joy and love, even while living amongst the hateful."

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  7. hi justice4otk,

    i'm super glad to see your blog recently.

    i reckon all of us here are party loyalist and LOVE our party very much. to my deepest disgust, if LTL ever becomes the president (by short cut), i'll be one of the first one to quit MCA.

    really hope OTK and CSL will team-up. both of them are indeed great leaders. we should all put the past behind (incidents prior to EGM) and move forward. i presume ROS will issue statement about position of CSL pretty soon. i do believe LTL might not be able to cling on the the 'newly' appointed post and he shall remain as HISTORY for years to come.

    DISGUSTING ... GROSS ... YUCKSsss ... agree with anon ... do watch out for Ka Chuan. cunning fella.

    cheers.

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  8. Justice For All10/24/2009 05:31:00 PM

    The inclusiveness of the GREATER UNITY SOLUTION to the MCA's impasse should be taken seriuosly by all. DO NOT WANT TO HEAR ANYMORE- talk to my ccs or consult my ccs. SOUND SO SUSPICIOUS AND DIVISIVE!! ALL CCs are MCA's CCs who are subservient to the CHAIR. Look at the bigger picture and distance yourselves from mental siege. Mendella vs de Klerk of South Africa or Obama vs Hilary Clinton of USA. Have humility and observe the hierarchy of the party by adhering to the constitution which will strengthen the party. Leave your pride behind and join hands to reform and bring the dignity of the party which has been bruised.

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  9. Ong Ka Chuan broke his silent come out blasting his gun criticising the peace plan between OTK and CSL as undemocratic. Understand his frustrations as his chances of becoming top MCA leadership will fade away if the peace plan is successful.

    Surely he would like to see OTK and CSL killed by Brutus then he will take on the traitor with OTK and CSL supporters in the next MCA election.

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  10. For a moment, I thought AH Khoon was Koh Tsu Koon. Sheesh!

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  11. I warned you about Ong Ka Chuan, didn't I?

    This guy is behind the taping of the sex DVD, of course he has something planned right now

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  12. Ong Ka Chuan too late to speak for the party! He feels his is no relevant to the party because no body like to talk about him. He said he is not a brutus, he want to stable the party if his contribution can do. He is too late to contribute the party ( He should talk before EGM1010) and he want to lead the brutus gang ( An chance for him to go into CC as gen. sec. ). So today he dear to start firing CSL/OTK and protect the Brutus-headed CC , too late to be hero. He doing thing always at the last moment. Like in old movie, Inspector Chou , everything is settle then he shows out, so the movie can not be end without him appear.

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  13. Was Ong Ka Chuan one of the people behind LTL? Was he surprised at the peace plan, just like LTL? Was he caught off guard? It would be interesting to know this.

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  14. I don't like the look of Ong Ka Chuan.He has the Japanese YAKUZA look.

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  15. I have the highest regard for Datuk Lim Ah Lek. He is a true gentleman.

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  16. LTL and gang are the reincarnation of Et tu Brutus and gang that killed Caesar!

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  17. yakuzanam

    Glad to have you here to give us your views . Everyone's views here are highly appreciated . We are still getting negative comments from those disgruntled CDs who just don't seem to see the importance of unity but rather feeling insecure and by passed by the leadership for their support of the brutuses .

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  18. Lim Ah Lek like Chan Kong Choi. Chan Kong choi likes Liow TL.

    So Lim ah Lek likes Liow TL. Don't forget Lim AL also involved in OTK and CSL meeting or horse trading.

    The subtle hands behind LTL are the old foxes.

    But for the good sake of MCA, like the reverand said, "Jia He Wan Xi xin". OTK should bring these youngers closer, even if you want to call them enemies, then bring closer. Give them a chance.They were wet behind theie ears and being manupulated and exploited by some old foxes.

    LTL, WKS and CMF would not have the guts to go alone, if what mentioned about them is true.

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