Morality

Tee Keat defends ‘tainted’ leaders comment

KUALA LUMPUR: Everyone has their own set of values and the right to express their views, said MCA vice-president Datuk Ong Tee Keat.

The president aspirant said that he did not mention any name when he talked about the morality of certain political leader.

He also said that there was nothing he could do to change the situation if certain people wanted to react specifically to the general statement.

“Am I not allowed to give my opinion on other people’s value? I do have the right to express my views,” he said at a function here yesterday.

On Saturday, Ong said that “tainted” public figures could not be “cleansed” simply by owning up to their wrongdoings.

He said these individuals must face up to society’s values and norms instead of giving excuses or blaming others for exposing their misconduct.

Yesterday, in a post on his presidential campaign portal – www.ongteekeat.net – Ong denied that his remarks on Saturday were meant to stifle anyone.

“I merely touched on existing norms – norms that are not set by me. Why must certain personalities be so fearful of such norms being mentioned?

“Mobilising ghost writers on a massive attack on me would not cleanse one’s misdeeds or change the norms,” he said, adding that such act was like ostriches burying their heads in the sand.

It is learnt that Ong was referring to some netizens who commented on the postings on Ong’s website.

Ong also said he would not delete comments that were posted on his web portal and those who expressed their views “have the right to say anything, including something nonsensical or hollow.”

“Let their hollowness be revealed. Such ugliness is very much part of the real world,” he said.

Some bloggers had started a discussion on the website asking visitors of the web portal whether they had seen the sex video clip of former MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

Dr Chua resigned from all party and government posts after he admitted that he was the man in a sex DVD.

He is widely speculated to be Ong’s contender in the party election in October.

Ng: Don’t use morality to run down others

KUALA LUMPUR: Morality should not be used as a weapon to run down potential candidates, including former vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, in the upcoming MCA elections.

Wanita MCA chief Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen said that Dr Chua should be given another chance if he were to contest as he had privately and publicly apologised for his past behaviour.

Dr Chua, who is the former Health Minister, had resigned from all posts after he admitted to having been in a sex video. He has been tipped to make a comeback and contest for the presidency.

“This person had made a moral mistake and apologised to the family and the world. If his wife and family can forgive him, who are we not to? Let the delegates decide who they want.

“The upcoming party elections should not be filled with accusations,” she told reporters here yesterday.

Dr Ng was commenting on media reports yesterday that quoted MCA vice-president Datuk Ong Tee Keat as saying that “tainted” public figures could not be “cleansed” simply by owning up to their wrongdoings but must instead bear the consequences.

Dr Ng said Dr Chua was brave enough to admit his mistake and deserved to be forgiven especially by the party as he had paid the price for what he had done by losing his minister’s post.

“I do not dare decide or judge someone else’s morality except my own. Can you give me a leader that scores a 100% mark in morality?” she asked.

Dr Ng said she had not decided whether to contest the presidency or another post as she had to first study the MCA men’s mindset.

“I am confident of my capabilities but I have to study the men and see if they are ready for a woman leader as 80% of the central delegates are men,” she said, adding that Kelantan MCA had backed her for the top post.

Earlier this year Malaysiakini reported:

Flanked by supporters, a calm Chua told the hastily-convened press conference, which began at 3pm and ended 40 minutes later, that he arrived at the decision because “the rakyat wants me to resign”.

“I hope my resignation, made on moral grounds, will serve to be a lesson to not just MCA members, but to all the Barisan Nasional component party members as well - that those who commit offences and possess certain weaknesses must be responsible for their actions,” he said.

He expressed disappointment that the public has adopted a holier-than-thou attitude on the issue and noted sarcastically that "maknanya semuanya golongan ulamak" (it must mean they are all very pious).

Chua further said he felt proud that he had made the confession and that he could stand tall because he was not being hypocritical.

“I thought that by my admission, the people would forgive my weaknesses, but I thought wrong. This shows that honesty does not always pay, (but) it is up to the public to judge me,” he said.