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Wednesday February 8, 2012

Soi Lek hits out at Jui Meng

By NELSON BENJAMIN and HAMDAN RAJA ABDULLAH
newsdesk@thestar.com.my


MUAR: MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek brushed aside Johor PKR chief Datuk Chua Jui Meng’s challenge for both of them to “slug it out” in a seat in Johor during the coming general election.

Dr Chua hit out at Jui Meng as “MCA’s reject product” who should not forget his roots, especially when he was a five-term MCA MP who had enjoyed its perks and privileges for 25 years.

“All the while when he was with the party, he had no problems. Now after he left MCA, he has been attacking the party and other Barisan Nasional parties.

“Maybe he has had a late political awakening after spending 25 years of his productive life in MCA,” he said, describing Jui Meng’s challenge against him as a cheap political stunt especially in the wake of the looming general election.

Dr Chua warned all opposition leaders, including from DAP, to stop challenging him daily as he would decide when and where to contest.

He stressed that MCA believed in the process of renewal and giving opportunity to the younger generation.

“As president I am determined to set a good example and will only go to a place where no one wants to go or where there is no winnable candidate,” he said, stressing that there was no need to challenge him as he would be the last person to run from a fight.

Dr Chua was speaking to reporters during a Chinese New Year dinner organised by the Sheng Lian Gong temple here last night.

Jui Meng, during a function in Muar on Monday, had challenged Dr Chua to stand in a seat in Johor against him.

Among the seats suggested were Muar, Ledang and Gelang Patah.

Jui Meng, who was previously the Bakri MP since 1986, left MCA to join PKR in 2009.

Dr Chua said he sympathised with Jui Meng as he had tried to become MCA president twice.

“Even in MCA his leadership had been rejected and with no political value, he decided to jump to the Opposition,” he said, appealing to the people of Bakri to elect a younger candidate if Jui Meng stood in the constituency.

Jui Meng, a former MCA vice- president, had challenged and lost a bid to become MCA president in 2005 and 2008.

He was subsequently appointed Johor PKR chief in 2010.

Dr Chua also asked Johor voters not to be hoodwinked into supporting the Opposition for if they come to power, a PAS-led Mentri Besar would not bring about development in the state.

“Look at what has happened in Kelantan. There has been no emphasis on development. If they come to power in Johor, I am worried that the development in Iskandar Ma­­laysia may be derailed while foreign direct investment may also be affected,” he said.

Dr Chua likened a vote for DAP as a vote for PAS which would implement its hudud law when it comes to power.

Also present at the event were Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Razali Ibrahim and Bakri MP Er Teck Hwa.

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