By Syed Akbar Ali
PETALING JAYA, July 18 — Former MCA vice-president Datuk Chua Jui Meng, who lost two bids for the party's top post, confirmed his worst-kept secret and officially joined Parti KeAdilan Rakyat (PKR) today in a boost for the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) that has been wracked by differences between its three allies.
It is understood the former health minister had submitted his forms earlier and today’s announcement at a PKR forum was a formality, party sources said. Former MCA Senator David Yeoh and former Lumut MP
“I am resigning as a member of MCA and with the permission of PKR's de facto leader, I'm announcing that I'm joining PKR," Chua said as the crowd shouted “Reformasi”.
“I'm convinced that today I'm standing on the right side of history, especially at this defining moment of history, I'm joining this party.”
The 64-year-old lawyer quit as Bakri MCA division chief two days ago, after leading the division for the past 23 years. He ran for the MCA president’s post twice but lost to Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting in 2005 and Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat last year.
Among veteran Barisan Nasional leaders who have recently defected to PKR include former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, MCA’s former deputy Wanita leader Dr Tan Yew Kew and former Gerakan veep Dr Tan Tee Kwong.
Well that’s a lark. Other than DAP and PAS, the Pakatan is made up almost entirely of ex UMNO and now ex MCA folks. Anwar Ibrahim still wants to return to UMNO. What happens if Anwar Ibrahim rejoins UMNO? Remote as it may seem, but bear the thought in mind. Anything is possible in politics. Anyone can sleep with anyone - it can even be gender neutral.
But why would Chua Jui Meng want to join Pakatan at this juncture in his life (64 years old) and in Pakatan’s life (about to enter a period of prolonged eclipse before being permanently dismembered – just wait and see).
And what does Pakatan think of Chua Jui Meng? Does a leopard change its spots ? If Chua Jui Meng was part of the ‘enemy’ for decades when he was a big gun in the MCA, when did Pakatan see his rebirth as a paragon of Pakatan virtue?
Who next : Ah Lek?
During the time of Slumberjack, post 3/08/08, some folks did consider jumping ship from the BN component parties to PKR and Pakatan. That would have been more understandable, considering the idiot at the helm then. But why now – when it is clear that the Pakatan is going nowhere as a working coalition? And when Brader Anwar himself is facing charges of sodomy in Court?
Surely someone with the stature of Chua Jui Meng would have considered the possibility that Anwar may lose his case and be jailed. PKR and the Pakatan would cease to be what it is (or was). Yet he chose to join PKR. The same argument goes for Zaid Ibrahim. He too joined PKR after Anwar had been charged in Court for sodomy. Perhaps Zaid too has done his calculations.
Logic dictates that they all see a better future for PKR and the Pakatan even if Anwar is no more around – simply because Anwar’s fate is now quite unknown.
7 comments:
"Logic dictates that they all see a better future for PKR and the Pakatan even if Anwar is no more around – simply because Anwar’s fate is now quite unknown."
Er, boss, I no comprende? You mean '.. because Anwar's fate is NOT quite unknown' pergaps?
Or what if this is another parti Gerakan in 'making', but from opposition side?
It takes this Katak that long to travel from Johore to KL, lama betul perjalanan.
Mereka RAIKAN dengan tepukan gemuruh?
Aaaiikk..Karpal,Kit Siang dan EngGuan terima KATAK ker sekarang? Dulu Timbalan speaker Perak lompat , sikit punya MARAH!
Habis PR tak menjerit suruh adakan pilihanraya baru kat kawasan tu ker?
Bota
Anwar probably rate that his chance to go back to jail is very high now that Sulaiman Abdullah has discharged himself from his defense team. PKR will in all probability break up as soon as Anwar goes to jail. Maybe Anwar sees in Chua and Zaid people who could hold the 'sinking ship' together. Today a lot of PKR leaders must feel pretty useless with Anwar's latest maneuvers.
Betul tu, the ship is sinking! Kalau tunggu macam manalah nak tolong kalau semua lemas?
Banyak kemungkinan. Kalau dia orang betul nak lemas, ikhlas dan tetap nak lemas, apalah kita nak buat? Kita hanya merancang! Kalau dia tak lemas buat problem aje! Dia sendiri dah nak mampuih!!!
Eh? No one shouting 'bought over', traitor, scumbag etc when a BN fellow jumps over the fence?
But when the fence is on the other side? Buckets of curses seem to spill over.
Anyway, new born Christians are normally purer than pure and will always look for greener grass elsewhere.
Perhaps PKR should team up with BN and jointly work out an exchange programme along the lines of twinning relations.
By the way what will happen if, hypothetically, all BN members decide to join PKR en masse?
Will there be a scramble for top posts, over riding the old guards?
Best wishes Chua. You definitely need it.
A GOOD MAN DOES NOTHING.
You must understand why he jumped.
Tell me, if one is jumping onto a sinking ship, it really tells alot from where he is jumping from isn't it? Now, the only way I could conclude without even reading your article, is that the ship our friend was on before he jumped, which you may not agree with me, must have already gone under! That's why he jumped!
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