Chua: I'm a 'winnable candidate' everywhere

MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek brushed aside his predecessor's claim that he should not contest in the next general election because of his sex DVD scandal.

He was responding on Ong Tee Keat's claim that the issue made him an unwinnable candidate.

"I consider myself a winnable candidate anywhere I go," Chua told a press conference at the sidelines of the MCA 58th annual general assembly today.

Over the past few days, The Malaysian Insider had carried a series of reports quoting Ong lambasting MCA as being "irrelevant" and condemning Chua's leadership.

Ong and Chua were locked in a bitter leadership struggle last year, resulting in the former being ousted after just 17 months as party president.

On the topic of the next general election, Chua also criticised Ong for making disparaging remarks about the party, just when the latter was preparing to defend his Pandan parliamentary seat.

"If Ong has no faith in MCA, why are you so insistent that by hook or crook you want to stand as an MCA candidate under the BN banner?" asked Chua.

Previously, Ong had said he would recontest in the Pandan parliamentary constituency come general election, with or withoutthe endorsement of MCA.

Chua was formerly the Labis MP before the sex DVD scandal broke in early 2008, resulting in him quitting his post as health minister and MCA vice-presidency.

The Labis seat is currently held by his son and he is speculated to be contesting either in Johor or Perak, where he is the state MCA chairperson.