Cronology of Events:
Fri, April 11, 2013 - Unofficial list of BN-MCA Candidates was known. Division Chiefs and imcumbent YBs who were not happy with the List started some action. Some went to the papers to voice directly and indirectly to the President. I suppose that was a last-minute appeal to President CSL to reconsider the Candidates list.
Mon, April 15, 2013 - PM Najib awarded the Surat Watikah to the Candidates via the Heads of BN Component Parties and through State BN Heads.
As a result of the confirmation of Candidates, the unhappy Division Chiefs and incumbent YBs became very dissatisfied. Some Pegawai Penyelaras who did not become Candidates also felt devastated, having spent the last few years being very active in the respective Constituencies.
As all know, some went to the extent of going to the Media (Press, Alternate Media, TV) to express discontent over the appointed Candidates.
From the date of Surat Watikah till Nomination Day, I have heard my MCA friends from various states talking about who (which Division) is collaborating, and planning to launch an "attack" on President CSL during forthcoming Party Elections. I suppose this was mainly due to dissatisfaction over who was chosen to be Candidate.
All kinds of stories and guesses were made over Why This Leader was not chosen as Candidate, Why Another Lesser Leader was chosen as Condidate. Truth was really not known. Stories of Lesser Leaders lobbying with BN-UMNO hence bypassing MCA President were also heard.
Sat, April 20, 2013 - Nomination Day. Unfavored Candidates were rather obvious. Majority of the Division members were not there at the Nomination Day if the Candidates were not in the Division's favour.
You see.... this signals a split within MCA. MCA members are not always supporting MCA Candidate. (The sickness of "the Candidate is not from our Team, so we don't care.")
A few days before the Election Day, 2 crucial events took place.
1) Rumours about 40k Bangladeshis being flown in to vote as Phantom Voters.
2) Lee Chee Leong bought a Lamborghini. Although LCL denied the allegation, the harm was made worse with him threatening to sue the Person Who Alleged This and the issue became hotter and more popular. When I talked to a Perak MCA guy who knows LCL personally, he was not surprised if LCL bought a Lamborghini. Even Ong Ka Chuan owns a Ferrari, having net wealth of over RM500 million (estimated). LCL and his siblings are very rich, due to the inheritance left by their late father.
The TRUTH was never known. But the Chinese all over the country decided to punish BN-MCA, BN-Gerakan and BN-SUPP.
Sun, May 5, 2013 - the D-Day i.e. Election Day.
Results were out. DAP had outrageous Success. On the other hand, Chinese-dominated Component Parties, i.e. MCA, Gerakan, and SUPP, suffered tremendous Defeat.
Mon, May 6, 2013 - wee hours in the morning.
President CSL announced that MCA would not be accepting Government posts...I think, this means not accepting any Cabinet positions (Minister, Deputy Minister, Political Secretary).
Mon, May 6, 2013 - late morning/noon.
President CSL announced that he would NOT be seeking re-election as President in the forthcoming MCA party election.
(Mr President, you want to wash hand after Defeat? Just like former President Ong Ka Ting?)
Mon, May 6, 2013 - noon.
MCA Youth (was it Central or a certain Division?) had a Press Conference to ask President CSL to quit.
(Question: Who was behind this? Who would benefit from CSL's resignation? Without doubt, all the MPs from MCA who have chance to become Minister, Deputy Minister, and Political Secretary. Without doubt, I think, those who are vying to replace CSL as President.)
Mon, May 6, 2013 - evening.
In TV news and online newspapers, CSL's announcement about not seeking re-election as President was out. Has CSL bowed to the pressure from other MCA Top Leaders? Is CSL going to be the Scapegoat? Just like OKT?
Recalling MCA's defeat at 308 (12GE on March 8, 2008)... MCA President Ong Ka Ting left the President's post to take the blame for MCA's poor performance for 12GE.
Ong Tee Keat took over as President. He "installed" his own people in the CC and supported his own people within the respective Divisions. Dissatisfaction was brewing.
After that, MCA was thrown into turbulence. Several major factions were formed: Ong Tee Keat, Ong brothers (OKT, OKC), Chua Soi Lek, Liow Tiong Lai, Wee Ka Siong, Kong Cho Ha, Donald Lim, etc. Some of these factions merged for greater strength.
During the Central Party Election, 3 Candidates vied for President post: Ong Tee Keat, Ong Ka Ting, and Chua Soi Lek. Chua Soi Lek won the Presidency.
As for the Central Committee posts, the winners were mainly CSL's people, followed by several OTK's people. Seemingly, CSL faction and OTK faction had a secret pact to support each other's CC candidates.
After the pary election was over, almost all Division Chiefs (who were earlier aligned to OKT faction or Ong Brothers faction) had gradually re-aligned to CSL. CSL was also gracious to tolerate and accept Leaders from the other 2 factions. Peace and Harmony slowly creeped in.
FAST FORWARD TO NOW...
May 6 and May 7, many Division Chiefs were having Lunch/Dinner/Meetings with their key Committee members on the "next course of actions."
Preparing for the next series of Battle?
An ALL-OUT BATTLE at all Levels (Branch, Division, State, Central)?
My dear MCA Leaders and MCA Comrades,
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
Haven't we seen enough blood (Defeat)? Is this haemorrhage (13GE Defeat) already humiliating? Do we need another round of Party Turbulence (dang zhen)?
To all aspiring MCA President candidates:
Please stop your Ambition for the moment. Please help to stabilise MCA, and find the new role of MCA within our Malaysian Chinese community.
To all MCA Division Chiefs:
Let Bygones Be Bygones. Let us work in Unity and Harmony. Let us bring back our beloved Party of half century heritage to BE GLORIOUS again. (Fa yang guang da ...again.)
To all the Oldguards:
Please do not seek to be Division Chief and other important positions within the Division. Some of you are in your 60s and 70s. Let the younger ones take over LAH...
Sorry, I "talked" too much this morning.
Again I appeal to all MCA Leaders:
PRESERVE THE UNITY AND HARMONY WITHIN MCA, OUR BELOVED PARTY.
Remarks:
I remember during Ling Liong Sik's era as President, many choose to discuss and negotiate on Party Leadership positions at Central, State, Division levels.
Can we adopt this again: DISCUSS and NEGOTIATE the Party Leadership posts, instead of an all-out democratic Party Elections at all Levels.
UNITY and HARMONY !!! Please....
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