The Party Elections

Beginning with the prelude of the immediate past president Ong Ka Ting trying to build his dynasty via immediate past secretary general who happens to be Ka Ting's brother, Ka Chuan. The contest for the top 2 posts ended up as the Ongs vs the Chuas.

The verdict given by MCA members were indeed refreshing. Ong Tee Keat beat Chua Jui Meng for the presidency whereas Ong Ka Chuan lost his bid to Chua Soi Lek for the the deputy presidency.

Apart from that several issues by the members for the first time. I think it is partly due to their bad outing in the March 8 2008 episode.

The loss of Ka Chuan indicates that the MCA delegates have woken up and will no longer tolerate dynasties, clans or a particular having control over the party that represents the Chinese community in the Barisan Nasional.

As for the issues raised they have requested for a deputy BN head post created for the MCA. One delegate even had the balls to call for Khairy Jamaluddin and Bukit Bendera UMNO head Ahmad Ismail to be detained under the draconian Internal Security Act. Unfortunately I am pessimistic whether these proposals would see the light of the day since BN component parties operates on an consensus basis. Plus UMNO would not give up the positions that they control within BN.

Would this same trend merge in UMNO? Going by the current nominations I am of the opinion that the power struggles continues to be dominated by certain families. The delay in Khary Jamaluddin to obtain the required that would enable him to contest for UMNO Youth head can be construed as a rejection to party president Abdullah's brand of cronyism. As for now we all shall await patiently for the UMNO party elections to take place in March 2009.

As for the MIC I read today that Samy Vellu would pass the baton to the next deputy president elected next year. And this comes in the midst of reports that Samy Vellu is backing his former deputy president S Subramaniam instead of current deputy, G Palanivel.