PETALING JAYA: Every MCA central delegate has his own leadership line-up. Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek, who has just announced his decision to run for the party's number two post, is no exception.

He said during an interview at Sin Chew Daily headquarters in Petaling Jaya, that he had three ideal vice president candidates, namely Tan Kok Hong from Johor, Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai and Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen. Besides, there is still another person.

"Well, I let you speculate."

After announcing his decision to run for deputy president, some say Chua has done so to "take revenge" on party president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting.

He denied squarely, and dismissed as unilateral conclusion that his criticisms on a number of issues have been seen as targeted at Ong Ka Ting.

Since he left his party and government posts, the sex scandal has continued to haunt him. However, he has chosen to face the issue boldly instead of evading legal and other problems.

During the party election campaign, comics mocking him for suspected malpractices during his tenure as health minister have been circulating around.

"I'll report to the police for sure, and will send for ACA investigations, too."

He said this is not the last time he would participate in the MCA elections. "The fortune-teller said I could live until 88."

On Ong Ka Ting and Ka Chuan

Q: Some say you run for deputy president because of Ong Ka Chuan, as part of your "revenge" programme aimed at his brother Ka Ting.

A: I bear no grudges. They have prejudices against me, instead. They tell the media I'm an ambitious guy. From vice president, I'm only trying to make advances in my own political career by running for the party's deputy president.

I have no fear or favour for anything. I'm only worried that people have prejudices against me. They want obedient leaders, and I admit I'm not one. I can't take everything that people say.

Q: If you're elected, do you want others to listen to you?

A: We should have the magnanimity to accept differing voices. If I'm bold enough to criticise other people, I should also be courageous enough to take other people's criticisms.

Q: You seem to be hinting at Ong Ka Ting?

A: I'm only talking about facts. It's you (the reporter) that thought I'm mocking him.

Q: Are you not worried other people will misunderstand that you're trying to hunt down on Ka Ting?

A: No. Because your question is on the past five years of MCA, and I'm answering you based on the principles of my political career. If something is not right, I'll talk about it in open. I won't act like a noble guy in front of people, but a mean chap behind. When I talk about the leadership, I don't necessarily mean him. It's you that made that conclusion.

On running for deputy president

Q: Why is your manifeso sound more like you're contesting for party presidency instead of deputy presidency?

A: This shows I've worked very hard. I spent two weeks to complete it. Don't believe? I can memorise it back to forth!

I never said I wanted to run for president. Never even thought about it. After I quit my government post, I have started from scratch. I feel it's good enough to become a divisional chairman and deputy president. It's you that has protrayed me as a party president. But that also shows you media think that I'm good enough for party presidency.

Q: Is this the last time you will participate in the party elections?

A: No. The fortune-teller told me I could live until 88.

Q: What kind of "message" did you get from the Johor MCA Youth and Wanita elections?

A: The momentum may be eroded, but won't affect the support from central delegates so much, because state Youth and Wanita chiefs are not central delegates.

Q: How many guaranteed votes do you think you can get from Johor?

A: Let the central delegates do the talking. Many people think I won't get too many votes. I can accept whatever conclusions they are drawing, because I know how much I can get. All I want to say is that the overall response from grassroots leaders has been within my expectations.

On running mates

Q: Who are your running mates?

A: So far everyone knows that I maintain good relationships with Fong Chan Onn and Donald Lim. The party's struggle cannot be individual-centric, but on a leader's views and philosophies on certain issues. While a leader can come and go, if the existing system is good, it should then be perpetuated.

Q: Anyone keen to join your camp?

A: I won't say even if there is. Only those in power have the advantage. We have nothing to promise people, or to get people to drive us around. Anyway, I want to thank those who throw their full support behind me, and take the trouble to drive me around...

Q: Without a Cabinet post now, do you think there is any change in the central delegates' attitude towards you?

A: For sure there is, but not many people. There're many delegates with no personal interests at all. They don't need to depend on the party or me as a Cabinet minister to survive or make a living.

Many central delegates are reluctant to express their support for me for fear of punitive actions. And I don't want them to this also.

Q: Ng Yen Yen was criticised for supporting what you had said.

A: For sure she would come under criticisms, because majority of the leaders will support the ruling faction. They want to solicit the attention of the leadership. I don't mean to smear anyone, but those who are loudest will be the first to run away if I expose their bad things. No one is perfect.

On vice presidents

Q: Will you support Fong Chan Onn and Donald Lim for the VP posts?

A: I've not thought of giving anyone my support at this moment, other than Tan Kok Hong. But, if Donald is running for VP, I'll also give him my support.

Q: How about Fong Chan Onn or Ng Yen Yen?

A: He's not decided which post to run for. And I support Yen Yen.

Q: Kong Cho Ha and Chor Chee Heung?

A: There're only 4 VPs.

A: Who's the fourth that you support?

A: Voting is confidential. I can only name a few. You (the media) can speculate on the other one.

Q: Donald has not decided which post to contest, including VP, and he denied he had discussed with you.

A: Maybe he feels that the timing is not yet right. Whatever he says, that's it. Not everyone is that straightforward like me.

On Chinese DPM

Q: Pakatan Rakyat has proposed a Chinese to become the deputy prime minister. MCA doesn't even have the gut to talk about it...

A: The Constitution doesn't have any provision for DPM. DPM is appointed by the PM. The Chinese community doesn't want a Chinese DPM without actual power. We want fair and transparent policies.

The country is developing very, very fast, but the leaders have not made fast enough progress. 50 years ago, we thought development and stability were the most important. Today, such a slogan is no longer convincing. MCA leaders today must learn to get along well with Malay leaders, because they don't think the same way as us.

Q: Is there any hope for MCA?

A: Of course. The Constitution makes it very clear that Malays have the privileges, and must believe in Islam. So the Malay parties must strive to defend this and there is this need for their continued existence. Similarly, the Chinese community still needs to defend the Chinese education as well as culture, and therefore Chinese-based political parties have this need to continue surviving.

UMNO must not be overly Malay- or Islam-centric, while MCA cannot afford to focus entirely on the Chinese community. They must go the multiracial way. They can't just talk about Chinese primary schools, independent secondary schools, Chinese new villages and temples. They must be more concerned about major national issues.

On Chua Jui Meng and Ong Tee Keat

Q: Whether Ong Tee Keat or Chua Jui Meng is eventually elected party president, will you cooperate with either of them?

A: This I have to see their manifestos. If their manifestos go along well with my aspirations, I'll work with them to achieve our common goals to ensure that MCA will not "close shop" in the next general elections. The reason Johor MCA could weather the political tsunami was that we maintained excellent ties with the state government, and solved our problems in a systematic approach... If MCA loses a few more seats in Johor, it can then "close shop" for good.

Q: Both you and Chua Jui Meng are over 60. Does this go well with MCA's rejuvenation policy?

A: MCA had very young leadership in 2003, but what has happened to the party in only four years? How does the Chinese community view MCA now? Perhaps you have better idea than me. I feel that a leadership from young to old is very important.

Q: The young-to-old leadership you were talking about...

A: Age is immaterial. The most important thing is capability, health and talent. There are many young people who pant just walking a few steps... Singapore and China's leaders are older, but that doesn't mean their leaderships are senile and their countries more backward than ours, while MCA's young leadership is the most perfect. You don't lead by the age.

On Cabinet post

Q: A few Johor leaders are contesting for senior party posts. Are you not worried that your support will be diluted?

A: To be frank, the Johor grassroots leaders are unhappy with the allocation of Cabinet posts. While half of MCA's MPs are from the state, we don't even have a Cabinet minister. And the two MPs from Pahang are both ministers.

Q: Ng Yen Yen and Liow Tiong Lai have been MCA central delegates, and they are more experienced...

A: We cannot decide the candidates for Cabinet posts based on party seniority. The minister post is not a place for you to learn something. The minister post should be for someone who is eligible.

Q: If you are elected deputy president, will you fight for a Cabinet post for the state of Johor?

A: By right it should be so. However, party president is not necessarily a minister, and a senior party office bearer is also not necessarily a minister.

Q: Well, have you thought of becoming a minister again?

A: I'll go step by step. You can't plan how to spend your money just after buying a lottery ticket. That will be day-dreaming.

On Ling Liong Sik's involvement

Q: Some say Tun Ling Liong Sik is behind all this...

A: Do you still think Tun Ling will have a hand in party elections after his retirement? They know that by mentioning Ling, they will create a stir. So they purposely bring him into picture. If a person leading MCA will have 100 new enemies each year, then Ling Liong Sik should have 1,700 enemies throughout his 17 years as MCA president. My opponents should know this very well.

Ling is our senior, and what's wrong with calling him to say "hi." I hope they don't get too hypocritical: praising him profusely in new year dinner, and slamming him like a worthless person behind him. This will only make people feel that they are real hypocrites. (Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily)