MCA sack Soi Lek over sex scandal issue

KUALA LUMPUR: The MCA has sacked its deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek with immediate effect.

This followed the party’s presidential council decision last night to accept its disciplinary board’s recommendation that Dr Chua be sacked from the party.

Chua: Told the media that he had expected the worst.

MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said the council, which held the meeting for more than five hours, had made the decision with a heavy heart.

The party had given due consideration to the damage inflicted upon it by Dr Chua’s DVD sex scandal.

“This decision has been made in the best interest of the party,” Ong said, adding that the members of the council stood as one. “We shall collectively be responsible for this decision.”

“Out of respect to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as chairman of the Barisan Nasional, the president will explain the decision of the council to him,” he said.

Under the party constitution, Ong said Dr Chua was allowed to appeal to the party’s central committee within 14 days from the date he received notice of the council’s decision.

Ong did not take any question from the media.

Of the 22 member comprising the presidential council, vice-presidents Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen and Tan Kok Hong as well as treasurer-general Tan Sri Tee Hock Seng were absent.

Dr Chua, who attended the council meeting, left before it ended.

He told a press conference that he had received a copy of the disciplinary board’s recommendation.

“As a loyal party man, I have to abide by the decision of the disciplinary board and the presidential council,” he said.

Asked if he would appeal against the decision, Dr Chua said he had not thought about it.

Dr Chua said for those who loved MCA, the work had just begun.

“Today is not about Chua Soi Lek. Neither is it about Ong Tee Keat,” he said.

He also questioned the MCA’s direction and purpose.

Before Dr Chua entered the meeting room at the MCA headquarters here at 7.15pm, he said he had expected the worst.

The disciplinary board investigations came about following a complaint by Simpang Renggam MCA division chief Eng Cheng Guan, who found a copy of Chua’s DVD in his post box.

Eng later withdrew the complaint but the board went ahead with the inquiry because the presidential council had adopted the complaint.

The DVD first made an appearance in late 2007 which resulted in Dr Chua resigning as MCA vice-president and Labis MP on Jan 1 last year.

He was elected deputy president at the party AGM last October.

The disciplinary board members were Ng Cheng Kiat, Datuk Jimmy Low Boon Hong, Datuk Ng Soon Por, Lai Kuan Fook and Ng Chih Siang.(Thestar)