KUALA LUMPUR, 4 Feb 2009: In what appears to be efforts to put aside their previous differences, former MCA vice-president and two-time MCA presidential election candidate, Datuk Chua Jui Meng, has patched up with MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.
Chua, who contested against Ong for MCA’s top post during the party’s election last year, has invited the latter to attend the Bakri MCA’s Chinese New Year gathering on Thursday night in Muar. Chua is the division’s chairperson.
The division had also supported Chua in his quest for the president’s post in the election.
Ong, who is also Johor MCA chairman, has accepted the invitation from Chua and confirmed that he would attend the function.
“Yes, I’m going there. That’s why during the election campaign period, I stressed on the importance that we should contest in a gentlemanly manner.
“This is because I know, in politics, things can change. After elections, its normal to patch up,” Ong said.
Chua, when contacted, played down their previous differences, saying that he and Tee Keat had always been friends.
“We are actually the last three standing of Team B. Moreover, he is the party president. Why not we invite the president to attend the party division’s function?”
Asked on a vernacular newspaper report that he had thrown his support behind Ong, Chua said it was merely a speculation as he and Ong all the while had been friends.
“The contest both of went through (party election last year) was a friendly fight. Not much mud-slinging, no personal attacks and the contest was more on what we stood for. Nothing more than that,” he added. — Bernama
