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Ka Chuan: I tried to make Ka
Ting change his mind
19/03/2008 The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: MCA secretary-general Datuk Ong Ka Chuan tried to dissuade his
younger brother, party president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, from recommending
him for a Cabinet post.
“When Ka Ting told me about his decision to recommend me, I exchanged many
SMSes with him asking him to change his mind.
“But he told me that he will not become a Cabinet minister even if I do not
want to be a minister,” said Ka Chuan, who has taken over Ka Ting’s Housing
and Local Government portfolio.
He said that since the four MCA ministerial posts were recommended based on
their positions in the party, he had no choice but to take up the
appointment.
The posts fell vacant for a variety of reasons.
Ka Ting had declined any Cabinet post saying he wanted to concentrate on
rebuilding the party following its poor showing in the general election
while deputy president Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy (former Transport Minister)
did not seek re-election due to health reasons.
In January, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek resigned as Health Minister and MCA
vice-president following a sex DVD scandal.
Of the two other vice-presidents, Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai (Deputy
Tourism Minister) lost his Petaling Jaya Selatan parliamentary seat while
Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn (Human Resources Minister), who won in the
general election, had fulfilled his maximum two terms as full minister.
Ka Chuan said many people had been trying to attack him with claims of
nepotism although he and Ka Ting had entered politics at almost the same
time.
“I became an MCA central committee member in 1987 and I was the MCA
organising secretary from 1990 to 2005.
“I was Perak MCA chief since 1999 but Ka Ting never appointed me to any
posts,” he said.
Ka Chuan also said he need not explain much on claims that he and Ka Ting
were trying to build the “Ong dynasty” in the party.
“If anyone wants to find fault with me, the only thing wrong is that I’m Ka
Ting’s brother. Except for that, I don’t see anything wrong,” he said.
“I believe people who know us well will understand our situation.”
“I have no regrets being his brother even though some people are trying to
use our relationship to attack us,” he said. |
