Malaysiakini's Stanley Koh has made a good analysis on the shenanigans of the major candidates in MCA's upcoming party elections in his opinion entitled, MCA battle, Paying the power price.
MCA Presidential contender Ong Tee Keat says he won't show up at the proposed NTV7-Nanyang Siang Pau televised debate scheduled at 8.30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 15. The other contender, Chua Jui Meng says he'll be there. NTV7-Nanyang Siang Pau says the show will go on.
MCA Vice-Presidential contender Ong Ka Chuan says he won't show up at the proposed NTV7-Nanyang Siang Pau televised debate scheduled at 8.30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 14. The other contenders, Dr Chua Soi Lek, Donald Lim and the other contender whose name escapes me, say that they'll be there. NTV7-Nanyang Siang Pau says the show will go on.
Why Ong-Ong no-show?
I guess for OTK and OKC to both say they will not be available to debate the other guys points to two immediate things. First, it tends to confirm that there is, indeed, an Ong-Ong team. Second, Ong-Ong represents the current MCA ruling elite.
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In Malaysia, the people in power tend to avoid unscripted settings. It has an annoying tendency to make them look ordinary.
Malaysian leaders need to have a halo and aura surrounding them. Like the Wizard of Oz they rely on bells and whistles to make them look good. This cannot happen in a debate.
Besides, Ong-Ong must have taken notes during the Anwar-Ahmad Shabery debate and the Guan Eng-Tsu Koon debate. The guys associated with the Establishment were left flapping in the wind because they were trying to defend the undefendable positions.
OTK the lone wolf no more
One of the myths that has sustained OTK in the past is his purported independent and recalcitrant streak. That was the feature that made him look attractive to many.
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In this backdrop OTK's refusal to debate, citing pressing Ministerial duties, is a major disappointment that lends credence to the accusation levelled against him that OTK is an actor that panders only to the Chinese Malaysian gallery via the controlled Chinese media on his hardline position against UMNO on key issues such as racism and economic favouritism.
The refusal to debate may turn out to be a major tactical mistake since the televised debate is an opportunity for OTK to show his capability as a prospective leader of the second largest party in the ruling BN coalition.
Perhaps OTK's real dilemma is that to truly make an impact in the debate, he needs to turn against his patrons, Ong Ka Ting and Ong Ka Chuan, who are accused of representing everything that is wrong about the MCA. How can OTK project himself as a reformer if he cannot criticise his patrons?
This may be OTK's kryptonite that will be exploited to the maximum by Chua Jui Meng, particularly on debate nite.
OKC the erstwhile shadow shogun
OKC is probably correct to refuse to debate the other contenders. I really can't see him dodging Dr Chua Soi Lek's bullets. OKC seems to be comfortable only when working in the shadows and behind closed doors. He's an old-school pol.
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But in the glare of the public spotlight, OKC clearly appears to be uncomfortable. Even Donald Lim will outshine him.
And, in an atmosphere where there is wide consensus that the MCA and the BN coalition needs serious reform, OKC can hardly morph from an Establishment figure into a reformer. So, I expect him to hide during debate nite.
The other contenders
Needless to say, for Chua Jui Meng, Dr Chua Soi Lek, Donald Lim and the other guy (what's his name?), the televised debate is an incredible opportunity for much-needed exposure in the run-up to the MCA party elections. This approach to party elections is to be encouraged.
.
.
In this context, the Ong-Ong no-show is no good.
MCA Presidential contender Ong Tee Keat says he won't show up at the proposed NTV7-Nanyang Siang Pau televised debate scheduled at 8.30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 15. The other contender, Chua Jui Meng says he'll be there. NTV7-Nanyang Siang Pau says the show will go on.
MCA Vice-Presidential contender Ong Ka Chuan says he won't show up at the proposed NTV7-Nanyang Siang Pau televised debate scheduled at 8.30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 14. The other contenders, Dr Chua Soi Lek, Donald Lim and the other contender whose name escapes me, say that they'll be there. NTV7-Nanyang Siang Pau says the show will go on.
Why Ong-Ong no-show?
I guess for OTK and OKC to both say they will not be available to debate the other guys points to two immediate things. First, it tends to confirm that there is, indeed, an Ong-Ong team. Second, Ong-Ong represents the current MCA ruling elite.
.
.In Malaysia, the people in power tend to avoid unscripted settings. It has an annoying tendency to make them look ordinary.
Malaysian leaders need to have a halo and aura surrounding them. Like the Wizard of Oz they rely on bells and whistles to make them look good. This cannot happen in a debate.
Besides, Ong-Ong must have taken notes during the Anwar-Ahmad Shabery debate and the Guan Eng-Tsu Koon debate. The guys associated with the Establishment were left flapping in the wind because they were trying to defend the undefendable positions.
OTK the lone wolf no more
One of the myths that has sustained OTK in the past is his purported independent and recalcitrant streak. That was the feature that made him look attractive to many.
.
.In this backdrop OTK's refusal to debate, citing pressing Ministerial duties, is a major disappointment that lends credence to the accusation levelled against him that OTK is an actor that panders only to the Chinese Malaysian gallery via the controlled Chinese media on his hardline position against UMNO on key issues such as racism and economic favouritism.
The refusal to debate may turn out to be a major tactical mistake since the televised debate is an opportunity for OTK to show his capability as a prospective leader of the second largest party in the ruling BN coalition.
Perhaps OTK's real dilemma is that to truly make an impact in the debate, he needs to turn against his patrons, Ong Ka Ting and Ong Ka Chuan, who are accused of representing everything that is wrong about the MCA. How can OTK project himself as a reformer if he cannot criticise his patrons?
This may be OTK's kryptonite that will be exploited to the maximum by Chua Jui Meng, particularly on debate nite.
OKC the erstwhile shadow shogun
OKC is probably correct to refuse to debate the other contenders. I really can't see him dodging Dr Chua Soi Lek's bullets. OKC seems to be comfortable only when working in the shadows and behind closed doors. He's an old-school pol.
.
.But in the glare of the public spotlight, OKC clearly appears to be uncomfortable. Even Donald Lim will outshine him.
And, in an atmosphere where there is wide consensus that the MCA and the BN coalition needs serious reform, OKC can hardly morph from an Establishment figure into a reformer. So, I expect him to hide during debate nite.
The other contenders
Needless to say, for Chua Jui Meng, Dr Chua Soi Lek, Donald Lim and the other guy (what's his name?), the televised debate is an incredible opportunity for much-needed exposure in the run-up to the MCA party elections. This approach to party elections is to be encouraged.
.
.In this context, the Ong-Ong no-show is no good.
4 comments:
Good post. Couldn't agree with you more.
It's a sad thing that our leaders still refuse to debate their ideas in public.
I think we all confused between party internal election (closed door only for party delegates) with country's general election (for all rakyat to participate).
No wonder rakyat cannot differentiate between party and government.
Sheeeesh.
anon 12:34
Quite right. You can see that all these BN component party internal elections are creating lots of hot air. Much talk of reforms. No real substance.
For many Malaysians, it may confirm that their decision to reject BN on March 8 was the correct decision.
Well, looks like OTK, OKC and their gang has gotten the MCMC to try and scuttle the debates...
What is this country coming to?
Is it because they are just chicken?
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