Soi Lek 'desperate' to contest Labis seat, looks to DPM for help

MCA Chua Soi Lek may not be fielded as a candidate for Barisan Nasional in the next general election.

The indications are there and this is why he is getting desperate and easily agitated, resulting in his current “scolding spree”.

MCA insiders in the know pointed out that Chua was perturbed and frustrated by the appointment of MIC president Senator G. Palanivel as a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.

“It hurt his ego and pride. As president of BN’s second largest coalition party, he should have also been appointed,” said the party insider.

The insider said the Chinese community’s contiuous fall in support for the MCA and Chua’s immoral image had made him a liability to the BN.

Sabak Bernam 'sandiwara'

On the MCA’s candidature issue, the desperate Chua even got his henchmen in Sabak Bernam MCA to fire the first salvo, calling for him to be fielded as a BN candidate in the 13th General Election (GE13).

It was reported by the vernacular Chinese newspapers that Chua could not respond positively to reporters’ question whether he would be fielded as a BN candidate in Labis.

This happened at a recent Hungry Ghost Festival Dinner in Kepong where he had, in his speech, boasted that if he was given the chance to contest in Labis (his son Tee Yong is the current MP), he would win it hands down.

Chinese support plunged 18%

After BN’s Tenang by-election (Tenang is a state seat in Labis) victory in January, Chua had proclaimed that there was a 45% swing in Chinese votes to BN compared with the 2008 general election result.

However, an in-depth study by the authorities later revealed that the Chinese support for MCA and BN had dipped to about 18%.

This was despite the fact that many voters did not turn up to cast their ballots due to the floods and evacuation.

“Those are angry voters and are likely to be pro-Opposition,” said the MCA insider.

However, the insider said Chua was now relying on his “ace” by leveraging on his strong Johor relations with deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin to ensure that he did not miss the boat in GE13.

- Lee Kee is a reader of Malaysia Chronicle