ROUND 2: Seai Kie jabs back at "biggest joke ever" Soi Lek

Heng Seai Kie is the latest 'hot' star in the embattled Malaysian Chinese Association, hitting the headlines after her party president accused of being overly ambitious and trying to go over his head.

But even as she denied trying to slip past party lines by lobbying other Umno-BN leaders for the Gopeng parliamentary seat, she was caught by reporters right in the midst of the opening of the Gopeng Umno delegates meeting.

However, that did not faze her in the least or stop her from standing on the moral high ground and insisting she was in politics not for prestige or gain but to serve the people.

"I have mentioned numerous times that I joined politics not for nomination or position but to support the party's stand in ensuring that the rights and importance of the Chinese community and the rakyat are taken care of," the Star reported her as saying.

While the convention in BN is to field the candidates recommended by the respective component parties, Prime Minister Najib Razak who is the Umno president has already warned he will make the final decision.

Najib is also the Women's minister and Seai Kie is now his deputy following the recent resignation of Umno's Shahrizat Jalil from the top Women's job.

Biggest joke, Soi Lek?

Although her words were cautious, her irritation was clear and she even took a swipe at MCA president Chua Soi Lek who had come down hard on her, publicly chastising her for putting her personal interest before the party's.

Heng said there were seven deputy ministers from the party and if she was the one being referred to, it was the "biggest joke ever".

"I hope to meet party president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek to gain better understanding over the issue. I still do not think the person he is referring to is me," she said.

The only one who fits the shoe

The scandal-tainted Soi Lek did not name her but referred to the deputy minister as being a "she" and Seai Kie is the only female deputy minister from the MCA. She is also the the Gopeng Parliamentary constituency deputy mentor.

MCA vice president Ng Yen Yen, although her position as the Raub MP is precarious due to the Bukit Koman cyanide mining issue, is a full-fledged minister and not likely to be the one Soi Lek had in mind when he lashed out at the alleged insubordination over the weekend.

Gopeng was a former MCA 'stronghold' until PKR's Lee Boon Chye snatched the seat with a thumping majority of7,368 during the 2008 general election.

Seai Kie, who is also one of MCA's appointed Senators, said that with polls nearing, it was normal for such issues to crop up.

"As a deputy mentor for the constituency, I will play my part to ensure that Barisan wins. This is my current focus," she said.

Love the party more than yourself, says Soi Lek

Speculation is rife that Soi Lek may want to contest in Gopeng too. His son, Chua Tee Yong, has already taken over his Labis seat after he quit in early 2008 due to his DVD sex scandal.

Soi Lek had told reporters he received complaints about Seai Kie approaching top Umno-BN leaders and lobbying them to support her candidacy. He also accused her of "money politics".

"She should love the party more than herself," Soi Lek had said.

Malaysia Chronicle