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Announcement comes three months after party's dismal showing in general election President Ong Ka Ting and his deputy Chan Kong Choy said they will not defend their posts at the party polls in October.
The two top leaders of Malaysia's biggest Chinese party yesterday announced plans to step down at the next party polls, three months after the party floundered in the March 8 elections. Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) president Ong Ka Ting and his deputy Chan Kong Choy said they will not defend their posts at the party polls in October. 'It is not a hurried decision but one that I have deliberated on at great length after much consultations,' said Datuk Seri Ong, 52. Explaining his move, he said leaders should not hold on to their positions for too long. 'It has been my political approach that a leader should not hold on to the position for too long. My decision is a natural progression to what I have always advocated,' he told The Star newspaper. Mr Ong, who joined MCA in 1979 when he was just 23, had himself amended the MCA's Constitution in 2003 to limit the party chief to three terms. He is serving his second term and could have gone on to a third. 'The party grassroots generally understand the current political situation and trends. They want to see a transition and strategy change in MCA in the light of the current difficult challenges ahead. This (party election) is the starting point for the transition,' he was quoted by online paper Malaysiakini as saying. With the exit of the MCA's two top leaders, the likely front runners to replace them are vice-president Ong Tee Keat, the Transport Minister, secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan, the Local Government Minister, as well as MCA Youth chief and Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai. They could also face competition from former vice-presidents Chua Jui Meng and Chua Soi Lek, the former health minister who stepped down after a sex video scandal earlier this year. Yesterday's announcement came as the party struggles to rebuild confidence in the wake of its dismal performance in the general election, when it lost 25 of the 40 parliamentary seats it contested. The MCA was also rocked by scandals around that time. There was Dr Chua's sex video scandal before the election, and Mr Ong himself was accused after the polls of spying on rival party leaders. He was later cleared of the charges. The party chief's move to step down came as a surprise to some, although others have been calling for his resignation after the March polls. The former Housing and Local Government minister said the election results showed that the Chinese community was sending a strong message to the party. 'Certainly, the results showed the need for all of us to reflect and rethink what has taken place,' he said. 'As party president, I must take responsibility for the results.' Deputy president Chan said he also would not seek re-election, but added he was waiting for the right time to make an official announcement. Bernama, The Star/Asia News Network
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