Lee not contesting MCA presidency, for now

Property tycoon Lee Kim Yew says he will consider contesting for MCA positions in the future only if changes are made to the party election system.

SERI KEMBANGAN: Property tycoon Lee Kim Yew today announced that he will not run for the MCA presidency, in the party polls slated for Dec 21, effectively ending weeks of speculation that the first-time MCA central delegate would enter the already crowded MCA presidential contest.

In an exclusive interview with FMT, the founder of Country Heights Holdings Berhad said he would only take part in the next MCA polls, in three years, if changes are made to the party’s election system.

“I only said I am going to contest for a party official post and I never said that I wanted to contest in this election.

“The Chinese character of ‘going to’ (jiang) is the same as the character ‘checkmate’. What I intended was to create an element of surprise in order to highlight my message.

“To contest for party president at this moment of time is something I am not going to do,” he said, in an interview at his office.

Recently Lee whipped up a frenzy among MCA members when it was reported that he was going to announce his plans for MCA by placing an advertisement in the Chinese newspapers, tomorrow.

Direct election and people’s wishes

The MCA presidential election would be a crowded affair with three leaders already in the ring. They are MCA deputy president Liow Tiong Lai, vice president Gan Ping Sieu and former president Ong Tee Keat.

Lee said his advertisement tomorrow would highlight the dire need for MCA to implement a direct election system and only leaders who won seats in the general election be given an opportunity to fight for top party positions.

He said that he would only stay and work for MCA and contest in future party polls if these issues are addressed promptly.

He said the current model of entrusting the 2,300 central delegates to elect party office-bearers breeds money politics and blocks young talents from rising and moving up in the party.

Joining the party as a member in the 1980s, Lee said that he has been touting his ideas of a change in the election system to all past MCA presidents but there was no response.

“Nobody can repair MCA if there is no direct election. It must be decided during this annual general assembly whether we want to implement direct elections. If we don’t want (direct elections), then we (MCA) better close shop,” he said.

Lee said he would vote for anyone who is committed for the implementation of direct elections, but so far only Liow has pledged, in his manifesto, to do so.

He criticised Ong for refusing to implement the direct election system in the past while encouraging Gan to commit to the idea and system.

“If Gan proves to be more serious about it, then I will vote for him too,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lee urged party delegates to respect the wishes of the people and vote for those who had won in the general elections.

“Imagine, the anti-establishment mood was so strong during the general elections, but people like Wee Ka Siong can still win with an 8,000 vote majority.

“If you don’t vote for Wee and instead vote for Donald Lim, who lost in the general elections, this shows that the party is very inward-looking,” said the businessman who built Mines Resort City and Palace of the Golden Horses Hotel.

“By saying this, I will also vote for Chua Tee Yong,” he added, referring to the Labis MP who is vying for a vice president post.

He said he was willing to accept an appointed post such as secretary-general or treasurer-general if the new leadership is seen to be moving towards the direction he advocates.