'CD Chua' must go: IMMEDIATELY TOO! - MCA tells boss

In the wake of MCA’s dismal outing in the 13th general election (GE13), more divisions are calling for party president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek(pix) to take full responsibility and step down.

Today, six MCA divisions in Penang – Jelutong, Permatang Pauh, Tasek Gelugor, Bayan Baru, Bukit Bendera and Tanjong – joined the chorus of calls for Chua to go.
Acting as spokesman for the six divisions, MCA Bayan Baru division secretary David Yim Boon Leong said Chua should bear full responsibility for MCA’s catastrophic loss in the election.

“The president should quit immediately to maintain the dignity of this party,” he told a press conference here.

Yim alleged that among the reasons for MCA’s defeat was Chua’s purported selection of his cronies as candidates, which caused friction within and outside the party.

“His (Chua’s) self-centred attitude and arrogance in handling issues affecting the Chinese community caused major discontent between the party and community, and led to the Chinese turning their back on MCA,” he said.

Yim also cited Chua’s “tainted image” as another reason, saying it went against MCA’s identity of being a party with good morals and values.

“The party has been made fun of by people because of Chua’s reputation,” said Yim, who hoped more local party leaders will take up the call to demand that Chua quit immediately.

MCA won only seven parliamentary seats and 11 state seats throughout the country in GE13, which is substantially lower than the 15 parliamentary seats and 32 state seats it won in the 2008 election.

Asked who they want as party president, Yim said that is to be left to the party’s central committee to decide.

On Tuesday, former MCA deputy president Tan Sri Lim Ah Lek had also called on Chua to step down immediately and not at the party’s annual general meeting (AGM) later this year.

Chua had on Monday said he would not be seeking re-election at the AGM.

MCA central committee members Lee Wei Kiat, Liew Yuen Keng and Tan Chong Seng had also called on Chua to resign immediately, citing similar reasons.

MCA Kuala Selangor chief Tan Chong Seng, Subang chief Lee Wei Keat and Serdang chief Liew Yuen Keong had also called for Chua to take full responsibility and step down.

The trio had claimed that Chua only fielded his loyal subordinates as MCA’s candidates in the general election and provided far-fetched excuses for the party’s poor showing in the election.

“He is shirking his responsibility. There was no introspection. He did not ask why the Chinese abandoned MCA,” they had said in a statement.

In echoing the call, former MCA disciplinary board deputy chairman Chan Tse Yuen, citing Penang Barisan Nasional chief Teng Chang Yeow as a good example, said a leader with principles would have resigned.

The Sundaily