PORT DICKSON: MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat wants all members to close ranks and work towards having a stronger party following the truce between him and his former deputy Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.
Ong said members were “yearning for unity” and that leaders could not allow themselves to be easily influenced by others.
“I’ve learnt one thing in politics over the years — stories will come and go. But what is important is that as leaders, we should not allow ourselves to be influenced.
“We should always have a clear mind to face the challenges ahead rather than be influenced by some stories made up by certain quarters,” he told reporters after launching GKV Logistic Sdn Bhd’s 51-tonne LPG tankers near here.
He was asked to comment on allegations by certain quarters in the MCA that newly- appointed deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai had been used by a “third force” in the party to undermine Ong and Dr Chua’s leadership.
MCA central committee member Datuk Ti Lian Ker had claimed that this made Liow a weak leader who could be easily manipulated.
Liow, Ti said, was facing the political obstacle of being rejected by Ong’s and Dr Chua’s supporters who made up the majority of the delegates.
Ti had also alleged that it was morally and politically incorrect to hand over the party’s leadership to a third force that had promoted, manipulated and exploited the political conflict between Ong and Dr Chua.
“By and large, I am under the impression that members don’t have any hiccups in addressing any problems. We want to look forward,” he said.
Asked if he was willing to forgive and forget the episode and those behind it, Ong again said that he wants “to look ahead”.
On whether party members should stop raising his dispute with former nemesis Dr Chua or of Liow’s alleged involvement with the “third force”, Ong said he cannot stop members from talking.
No comments:
Post a Comment