Dr Chua Soi Lek's dismissal in party's 'long-term interest'

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KUALA LUMPUR: The five-man MCA disciplinary board was unanimous in its decision to recommend the sacking of Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek following his sex video scandal, according to its report to the party's presidential council.

The action was taken in the long-term interest of the party and was similar to the precedent, set in the expulsion of former Kapar division chairman Tan Yoke Chung and seven others who were caught for illegal gambling in the party's branch premises in 1998, said the report obtained by Bernama.

The disciplinary board had also considered if it was proper and justifiable to act against an elected party leader.

"The simple answer to this question is that the basic general principle that everyone is equal before the law, and in our case, every member is equal before the party constitution.

"In a democratic party or society, this simple and fundamental principle is beyond dispute," the report said.

The board also made known that it had set aside, existing internal politics and individual interests in its deliberations but "when the interests of an individual member collide with the interests of the party, the interests of the party are paramount, and must always come first."

The disciplinary board is headed by former party secretary-general Ng Cheng Kiat. Its other members are Datuk Jimmy Low Boon Hong, Datuk Ng Soon Por, Dr Lai Kuan Fook and Lau Chih Siang.

Dr Chua's sacking was announced by party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat after a five-hour presidential council meeting, and he has 14 days to appeal.

The disciplinary report said the board had "no difficulties" in arriving at its conclusion that Dr Chua could no longer be an asset to the party.

"What the respondent had done in failing to uphold the image and reputation of the party has not only "haunted" and hurt the party and the government, but is going to continue to "haunt" and hurt the government in the future, especially in every forthcoming by-election and general election, unless some drastic action is taken by the party," the report explained.

The board also noted the parallel of former Parliamentary speaker Datuk D. P. Vijandran who had to succumb to public opinion and leave the political arena after he was linked to videotaped sexual activities.

"In short, it is safe to conclude that, for the general Malaysian public, a public figure in Malaysia is expected to behave like a public figure," the report said.

"He cannot be a public figure and enjoy the luxuries of a private person at the same time, and when he is caught, he will not be allowed to defend and excuse himself by saying that it is my private life," it added.

The report also highlighted that Dr Chua had himself stated, after the video surfaced, that he decided to resign from all posts because of moral problems and did not want to burden the party and the government.

One of the disciplinary board members, who declined to be named, reiterated the main reason for the explusion was that Dr Chua would be a liability to the MCA.

"We came to the conclusion that to sack him was the most appropriate decision to make. The party cannot afford to have a member, more so, a senior leader like him, to tarnish its image.

"The party cannot carry the burden of a leader whose action will always be the subject of ridicule among the public and in political circles.

"People will continue to make fun of what he had done and question the integrity of the party. So, we had to expel him," he said.