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Gopeng has always been a traditional stronghold for MCA until the 2008 General Elections, which saw Ling Hee Leong – the flamboyant son of former MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik – being defeated in his first outing by PKR’s Dr Lee Boon Chye by a majority of 7,368 votes.

Speculation is rife that Soi Lek may want to contest in Gopeng too. His son, Chua Tee Yong, has already taken over his Labis seat after he quit in early 2008 due to his DVD sex scandal.

Does Chua Soi Lek think that it is a safe seat?

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A PERSONAL NOTE

In GE 12, Blogger was helping out at an election center. In the mid-afternoon, the Big Shot MCA candidate for the Gopeng Parliamentary seat arrived with his entourage of several people. Big Shot went straight to all the election officers and assistants and began shaking hands, thanking everyone for their hard work (implying that it was all for his victory?)

Small Me, having heard too much unsalutory gossip of his doings, quickly moved the other way. I have never liked Big Shots or even those who consider themselves Big Shots. My friends who have a Datuk or Tan Sri in front of their names have to accept the fact that they are plain “Mike”, “Sammy” or Cheah” to me. Our friendship is more important than a title.

As it turned out, MCA Big Shot got thrashed.

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Malaysiakini

MCA senator Heng Seai Kie wants her party to investigate whether she is involved in money politics, as alleged by party president Dr Chua Soi Lek, in order to arrive at the truth and clear her name.

“I will seek clarification from the party president. I will also request the party to initiate an investigation to clear my name,” the deputy minister of women, family and community development said.

Heng wants money politics charge against her probed

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Malaysia Chronicle

Thursday, 20 September 2012 15:47

ROUND 3: Soi Lek knocks himself out with ‘money politics is NOT corruption’ remark

Written by  Stan Lee, Malaysia Chronicle

MCA president Chua Soi Lek may be unable to sop his party from being wiped out at the next general election but he sure deserves top marks in ‘creative twisting and turning’ for saying money politics was not corruption.

“It’s another nail in the MCA coffin but if Soi Lek thinks that he can afford it, let his words speak for himself and the MCA loud and clear for the whole country to hear. The people can gauge for themselves how credible his reasoning and logic is,” PKR MP for Gopeng Lee Boon Chye told Malaysia Chronicle.

Boon Chye was referring to the shocking answer that Soi Lek gave to the Oriental Daily News when asked why he did not report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission a female deputy minister from the MCA that he had personally accused of practising money politics.

ROUND 3: Soi Lek knocks himself out with ‘money politics is NOT corruption’ remark

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Heng is the only female deputy minister from MCA.

Gopeng Umno division chief Hamzah Mohd Kassim explained that Gopeng Umno had also suggested that Heng be nominated as the candidate for MP in Gopeng as they wanted a senior leader to represent the constituency.

Malaysiakini

Gopeng Umno has deflected MCA president Chua Soi Lek’s criticism of Perak MCA Wanita chief Heng Seai Kie for allegedly lobbying to contest in the Gopeng parliamentary seat and “indulging in money politics”.

According to a New Straits Times report today, Gopeng Umno division chief Hamzah Mohd Kassim said the allegation had emerged after she frequently visited the constituency to help those in need.

“She was appointed to oversee the constituency in July last year and since then, she has attended more than 40 functions,” he was quoted as saying.

He added that the claim of money politics came about after she gave out aid to single mothers and children at a Hari Raya open house there.

Gopeng Umno defends Heng after Soi Lek’s flaying

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The MCA is now trapped in a difficult situation filled with internal and external problems. The DAP has been seeking opportunities to attack, while the Dong Zong is condemning the party. If the Chinese community loses confidence in the MCA, it would then fall into another low ebb.

Malaysia Chronicle
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 07:15

Internal and external problems: Soi Lek vs Seai Kie

Written by  Lim Sue Goan

………….

I personally think that the remarks were not directed to the Wanita MCA. Even though Chua has not been getting well with the party wing, he is actually taking the opportunity to convey two messages.

Firstly, Chua might have been bored (Blogger: does she mean bothered?)by the phenomenon in the party of using back door to seek for candidacy.
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The president’s open accusation was meant to tell leaders of all levels that “I’m the boss”, to prevent others from following suit.

Secondly, it was also meant to stop local factional problems from going worse. The candidate for the Gopeng parliamentary seat has been decided. If “outsiders” including Chua’s crony, Perak MCA secretary Datuk Tan Chin Meng, lobby other BN component parties, disputes might be triggered.

Internal and external problems: Soi Lek vs Seai Kie

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Malaysia Chronicle
Tuesday, 18 September 2012 16:44

ROUND 2: Seai Kie jabs back at “biggest joke ever” Soi Lek

Written by  Maria Begum, Malaysia Chronicle

Heng Seai Kie is the latest ‘hot’ star in the embattled Malaysian Chinese Association, hitting the headlines after her party president accused of being overly ambitious and trying to go over his head.

But even as she denied trying to slip past party lines by lobbying other Umno-BN leaders for the Gopeng parliamentary seat, she was caught by reporters right in the midst of the opening of the Gopeng Umno delegates meeting.

However, that did not faze her in the least or stop her from standing on the moral high ground and insisting she was in politics not for prestige or gain but to serve the people.

“I have mentioned numerous times that I joined politics not for nomination or position but to support the party’s stand in ensuring that the rights and importance of the Chinese community and the rakyat are taken care of,” the Star reported her as saying.

While the convention in BN is to field the candidates recommended by the respective component parties, Prime Minister Najib Razak who is the Umno president has already warned he will make the final decision.

Najib is also the Women’s minister and Seai Kie is now his deputy following the recent resignation of Umno’s Shahrizat Jalil from the top Women’s job.

Biggest joke, Soi Lek?

Although her words were cautious, her irritation was clear and she even took a swipe at MCA president Chua Soi Lek who had come down hard on her, publicly chastising her for putting her personal interest before the party’s.

Heng said there were seven deputy ministers from the party and if she was the one being referred to, it was the “biggest joke ever”.

ROUND 2: Seai Kie jabs back at “biggest joke ever” Soi Lek

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Malay Mail

MCA WANITA vice-chairman Datuk Heng Seai Kie is sure party president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek was referring to someone else when he alleged that a deputy minister in the party was lobbying BN component parties to support the candidacy for the Gopeng parliamentary seat.

Heng said she was confident Dr Chua was not referring to her and that she was planning to meet him soon “to get a better understanding of the issue”.

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Heng says Dr Chua not referring to her

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Malaysia Chronicle
Monday, 17 September 2012 20:51

Soi Lek all ‘hot & bothered’ over Seai Kee: Is he eyeing Gopeng for HIMSELF?

Written by  Maria Begum, Malaysia Chronicle

Given the unusual heat with which MCA president Chua Soi Lek has gone after a deputy minister, accusing her of putting her personal interest before their party’s has sparked speculation that he may have earmarked for himself the Gopeng parliamentary seat currently held by PKR’s Lee Boon Chye.

“Whether it’s Heng Seai Kie or Chua Soi Lek, it doesn’t matter to us. We are confident PKR will retain Gopeng. So it is pointless for Chua to lash out at Heng in such a wild way, it will only make MCA members lose more respect for him. No need to be so desperate,” PKR vice president Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.

Chua did not mention Heng by name, but used the word ‘her’ to describe the “deputy minister” and Heng is the only female deputy minister in the MCA.
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A bitter Chua had told reporters during a trip to Ipoh that he had received complaints about Heng approaching top BN leaders and lobbying them to support her candidacy. He also accused her of “money politics”.

“She should love the party more than herself,” was Chua’s grouse.

Heng however has denied Chua’s charges. “Money politics is not my style. Besides, not everyone can indulge in it,” she was quoted as saying.

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Soi Lek all ‘hot & bothered’ over Seai Kee: Is he eyeing Gopeng for HIMSELF?

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Chua Soi Lek is MCA President. During the last party election, Heng was aligned to Ong Tee Keat’s faction, which was nearly wiped out. Nevertheless, Chua nominated her as a deputy minister.

Malaysiakini

MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek has accused a deputy minister from his party of lobbying BN component parties to support her candidacy for the Gopeng parliamentary seat.

Speaking to reporters in Ipoh yesterday, Chua said he had been receiving complaints on this and also accused the deputy minister of indulging in “money politics”.

Although Chua did not name the deputy minister, he did allude that she was female, thus narrowing it down to just one person – Heng Seai Kie.

Heng is the MCA Wanita vice-chairperson and women, family and community development deputy minister. She has no prior electoral experience and has been appointed a senator.

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Chua rips MCA Wanita veep over Gopeng seat

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Malaysia Chronicle
Monday, 17 September 2012 19:41

MCA gets to contest again in Gopeng – Zambry

The Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Gopeng parliamentary seat in the next general election will again come from the MCA, Perak BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said Monday.

Zambry, who is the Perak menteri besar, said Gopeng, a Chinese-majority seat, had been traditionally contested by the MCA and it would remain so.

MCA gets to contest again in Gopeng – Zambry

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