Jui Meng: 'Will someone tell Chua Soi Lek there are no safe seats for him!'

PKR vice president Chua Jui Meng has challenged MCA's embattled president Chua Soi Lek to stand in whichever seat he contested in at Johor - the home state and stronghold of both Chinese leaders.

"In Muar, I challengd CSL to stand against me in whichever seat I stand in Johor. As President he can do that. Last nite in Muar he dodged and instead attacked me," Jui Meng said on his Twitter.

"CSL said earlier he would not stand. Now under pressure, he said he wld decide where to stand. Like MCA presidents, it would be a Malay majority Parliamentary seat. Will someone tell CSL there are no safe seats for him!"

Soi Lek and son among the most unpopular of MCA leaders ever

Indeed, the scandal-tainted Soi Lek and his son, the Labis MP, are now among the most unpopular leaders in MCA's long history.

Soi Lek was forgiven for his sex DVD scandal, and there had been high hopes placed on him to reform MCA in 2010. But instead of uniting the party, Soi Lek has only created more fissures by continuing a feud with his predecessor Ong Tee Keat.

In what critics say was a sign of his "vengefulness", until now, Soi Lek is adamant about wanting to replace Tee Keat in the Pandan parliamentary seat even though Umno supported Tee Keat's appointment as BN chairman of the division.

There is obviously no love lost between the two men, and neither is Soi Lek on amicable terms with Jui Meng, his former running mate in the 2008 party polls.

Till now, Jui Meng recalls how Soi Lek had at the last minute played him out in the 2008 MCA vote. And when Soi Lek ousted Tee Keat at the 2010 extraordinary general meeting, instead of closing ranks, Soi Lek created special positions for his own supporters.

Aiming to create a Chua dynasty in MCA

The MCA president even nominated his son Tee Yong for a deputy minister's post at the expense of more senior candidates, prompting talk that he was out to create a dynasty and transfer power to his son.

Soi Lek had also vowed upon winning MCA presidency from Tee Keat that he was not out for cushy jobs and would not stand for a seat. But it has been clear that he has changed his mind.

Soi Lek has openly spoken about his contesting a seat in the 13th general election, and this has prompted not just Jui Meng and DAP leaders to slam him for reneging on his promise, but other MCA leaders too have ridiculed his leadership.

Sly

On Wednesday, an upset Soi Lek went after Jui Meng but in his verbal attack, only exposed his ambition and thirst for a seat. Given his huge unpopularity and crafty character, few believe Soi Lek will contest in any seat other than a Malay majority one. Otherwise, he is likely to lose hands down.

Despite being president of the MCA, Soi Lek is now dependent on Umno members and supporters to pull him to victory and not the Chinese, who form the MCA's core electorate. Hence his bitterness at being exposed by Jui Meng, who had challenged to "slug it out" in a seat in their home-state.

“As president I am determined to set a good example and will only go to a place where no one wants to go or where there is no winnable candidate,” the Star reported Soi Lek as saying, stressing that there was no need to challenge him as he would be the last person to run from a fight.

Yet, Soi Lek slyly did not agree to Jui Meng's challenge.

"Isn't this telling of Soi Lek's character. He says a thousand things about me and my age. But he doesn't mention his own age and his sex scandal. He talks about standing his ground and not running from a fight. But here I am, this is my challenge - to fight on even ground in our home state in Johor. Even this, he is scared stiff and dare not accept," laughs off Jui Meng, when contacted by Malaysia Chronicle.

Malaysia Chronicle