The Star

Friday August 21, 2009

Ti: Positive result good for BN

PETALING JAYA: The outcome of the feud between MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and businessman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing will show whether Malaysians wanted transparency and accountability or otherwise, a MCA central committee member said.

Datuk Ti Lian Ker, who is a three-term assemblyman, said Malaysians were changing their mindset and approach to politics and this could influence the outcome of the spat between Ong and Tiong, who is Kuala Dimensi CEO.

“A positive outcome is going to bring many positive vibrations, values and culture to a sinking Barisan Nasional,” he said in his blog.

Ti said the demand for change of the political ethos was not only found in MCA but also many educated and professional Malays.

“They are craving for a system of accountability and transparency,” he said.

Ti said many had predicted that Ong would be at the losing end in the feud as Tiong was known to be politically connected to powerful personalities.

“Knowing that his opponent is both financially and politically powerful did not slow him down or put him in fear.

“He has been projecting a sense of calmness that no MCA president has ever shown when under siege,” he said.

Ti pointed out that past MCA leaders with “wills of steel” such as Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu and Datuk Neo Yee Pan had fallen.

“They all fell under different circumstances and to different forces but history has shown that strong MCA leaders cannot stand the onslaught of taikos, towkays and big boss.

He said Ong was ridiculed by the business circle.

“The taikos and the towkays were all predicting his downfall. The talk is that they are putting a collective stake of RM100mil to see his fall.

“There was talk that MCA members and leaders will sell their soul to bring him down. Will MCA walk down the aisle of further indignity?,” he said.

Ti said more “punches” would be coming and this was the time and opportunity for MCA to redeem themselves as a political party.

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/8/21/nation/4560895&sec=nation