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Former health minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek did not fade away after he quit all political posts politics earlier this year over a sex scandal. He talks to EILEEN NG on the battle ahead to resurrect his political career By Eileen Ng, New Straits Times
Q: How has the response been since you announced your decision to contest a vice-president's post?
A: It has been great. But you'll never know until the votes are in. Q: Have you been having difficulties in meeting delegates, as alleged by some?
A: There are, but these are to be expected. You can't expect 191 divisions to welcome all the leaders. Q: How do you overcome these difficulties, seeing that you need to meet as many delegates as possible?
A: Patience helps a lot. No, I don't get snide remarks or the cold shoulder treatment. Q: How will you work with the newly-elected president to rebuild and reinvent the party?
A: All of us in MCA are mature enough, especially those who have been in the party for 15, 25 or even 30 years. The fact that we have spent half of our productive life in MCA shows that we are committed to the party and its cause. Everyone wants to see the party united. The question of your personal conflict with another is not relevant to the members. Personal differences will always be there but it is a question of "agree to disagree". We are committed to the same cause. Q: Who can you work better with -- Datuk Ong Tee Keat or Datuk Chua Jui Meng?
A: I think I can work with either. No one can fit into your own personal mould. So, it's a question of how to adjust yourself. Q: Your sex scandal will affect your chances. How do you plan to overcome this?
A: By being sincere. Everybody makes mistakes. I have never claimed to be perfect. No leader is perfect anyway. It's a question of not repeating the mistake. Q: There are caricatures and posters depicting you as a corrupt leader and they were sent to MCA central delegates nationwide.
A: Poison pen letters about me have surfaced consistently since I came to federal politics. I notice that there has been a consistent effort by somebody within MCA to undermine my leadership and image. It's so consistent that a pattern has been established. I notice people are very wary of me and say I am very ambitious. The pattern also tries to taint me as being morally unfit and corrupt. But if they have the information, they should go to the authorities rather than spend a lot of time and money (on this smear campaign). Of course, there are people who have told me that I have to look at it from a positive side. They said, "you must have something in you that people are frightened of". Q: Have delegates come up to you and voiced their concerns about this unhealthy form of politicking?
A: I think most delegates think this is orchestrated and hitting below the belt without any basis at all. I've lodged a police report, so let them investigate. I've some idea who is behind this as all the information is related to the Health Ministry and the information must be extracted from the ministry. What I'm happy to note is that the more personal the attack against me, the more support and sympathy that I get. That's the truth. Q: You have a blog which is popular with Malaysians. Do you think it is an effective campaigning tool?
A: I haven't touched my blog in the last few days. When you start travelling, it becomes very difficult (to blog). I think the personal contact is more important. Q: In your manifesto, you outlined the need for MCA to change its current political approach. However, MCA's efforts may be in vain if its partners refuse to change.
A: That is a very pessimistic way of looking at things. Before we tell people to put their houses in order, we have to put our own house in order. Then only will we have the integrity and the standing to tell people, "okay we have reorganised, it's time for you to change". And I'm sure the Umno leadership is politically-savvy, otherwise they won't be in power for over 50 years. And they know they need to change, to reform. They know they need a new working model. Q: How can MCA remain an equal partner in Barisan Nasional and not be seen as submissive to Umno?
A: That's why it is important for Umno to adopt a consultative approach and a decision by consensus, and not just a one-man show, or top down all the way. Maybe because we are in power for so long, we take a lot of things for granted. Q: Should MCA remain in BN?
A: It is easy to say "leave BN". The question to throw back to ourselves is, "if we leave BN, can MCA survive on its own?" If it can't, what are we going to do? Join Pakatan? Even DAP finds it difficult to survive and that is why they joined Pakatan.
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A: By being sincere. Everybody makes mistakes. I have never claimed to be perfect. No leader is perfect anyway. It's a question of not repeating the mistake.
Correct, Chua. Next time, make sure you book different rooms and use different girls. And check the rooms for hidden camera.
You hunger for sex isn't our worry. Its the stupidity of getting caught that worries us. Pretty much like stealing a bite and not wiping the crumbs of your mouth.