Chua left MCA to joint PKR

KUALA LUMPUR – Chua Jui Meng has done it. At about 4.15pm Saturday, he announced he has left MCA and joined the opposition PKR.

With him at the rostrum before a packed crowd at the Sunway Resort Hotel and Spa ballroom were former MCA stalwarts David Yeo Eng Hock and Dr Yap Yit Thong.

A member of the MCA for the past 23 years, Chua was given a rousing welcome when he entered the hall with PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim at about 3.45pm.

He told his audience he was about to take a journey of change, adding that his entry into PKR was a ‘defining critical moment’.

Describing Anwar as a ‘kindred spirit’ in changing Malaysia, Chua said: “I am now joining a multi-racial party.”

Taking the road less travelled

A banner strung across the entrance to the ballroom greeted Chua and Anwar as they entered the hall at about 3.30pm amidst loud applause and cheers. The banner read: 'Congratulations to Chua for joining PKR'.

Addressing the elated gathering of more tjhan 2,000 people, he said: "I am resigning as a member of the MCA and, with the permission of Anwar, I'm announcing that I'm joining PKR." The assembly responded with cheers of 'Reformasi!'.

Saying he was misquoted by a mainstream newspaper on Friday, Chua said he is convinced that today he is standing on the right side of history, and taking the right side of change.

Chua said: "An Umno leader once said if we do not change, then the people will change. And one thing for sure now, we have seen the truth of the words.” He did not name the leader.

“Now, 'people power' is the force that has to be reckoned with.”

He said the MCA is a mono-racial party and there is no place for the Chinese community in such parties in future.

“I know I am leaving the comfort and security of my present life for a road less travelled - a tough and rough road. Ahead of me awaits hardships. I am prepared for this last hurrah of my life," he said, to tumultuous cheers.

Chuah said he was joining PKR to help preserve the two-party system that had emerged after the March polls last year.

The announcement by Chua served as the preamble for a forum on alleged scandals involving the Barisan Nasional, incuding the issues of the Perak government, the PKFZ controversy and the so-called Barisan conspiracy against the Pakatan Rakyat alliance.

An elated Anwar Ibrahim

In welcoming the former health minister into the PKR fold, Anwar said he was happy with the turnout of party members and supporters at the gathering.

Feeling jubilant at Chua’s decision to join the party, he quoted philosopher Edmund Berg as saying that “it is the triumph of evil when good men and women do nothing.”

Anwar told Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak that “enough is enough.”

“No more mysterious and dubious deaths.No more taking money from the people and enriching the few".

Reacting to Chua's defection, MCA president Ong Tee Keat said: "Everybody has their goals. If it brings some benefit to the rakyat..well, we wish him good luck.

"In politics, anything can happen. In the MCA, everyday we see people coming in and going out. That's the spice of life," added Ong.

When Chua was asked at a press conference later whether he would be meeting Ong on his resignation, he replied, "Tee Keat is my friend. He is a man of ideals and principles. I respect him for that and I'm sure he respects me too. We will always be friends", he said. (MMirror)