Soi Lek to resign if Tee Keat fielded, says report

MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek is said to have told the party's central committee meeting yesterday that he will resign if the BN fields arch-rival Ong Tee Keat in the Pandan parliamentary constituency.

Quoting sources, China Press today reported that, apart from Ong, secretary-general Kong Cho Ha and vice-president Dr Ng Yen Yen (right), are also not on the list of MCA candidates for the impending general election.

Ong Ka Chuan, former secretary-general and elder brother of former president Ong Ka Ting, will not be asked to defend the Tanjung Malim parliamentary seat.

As for Chua himself, a minister before he stepped down in 2008 due to a sex scandal, the Chinese daily claimed that he will contest but that the seat has yet to be revealed.

Ng, also the tourism minister, will reportedly be replaced by Pahang state executive councillor Ho Khai Mun, who is now Bilut assemblyperson.

Treasurer Tan Chai Ho (left), who was defeated by Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim in the Bandar Tun Razak parliamentary seat in 2008 by 2,515 votes, will be given a chance to avenge his loss in the same seat.

The MCA has agreed to give two parliamentary seats - Wangsa Maju and Kuantan - to Umno but it was not clearly stated whether this involves a seat swap.

MCA will call another meeting on Thursday to finalise the list, according to the report.

Kong told China Press that he was not aware of the decision to remove him as a candidate.

Deputy president Liow Tiong Lai, meanwhile, claimed that yesterday’s meeting did not discuss the issues of candidates and seat swap.

“Will it be the last central committee meeting? It seems like the last meeting,” Liow is quoted as saying.