Yesterday, was a New Year with a BANG! At 5.00pm in Labis, Segamat, Health Minister and MCA Vice President Dato’ Seri Chua Soi Lek gave a special press conference at his service centre on the issue of “sexual DVD”, which was circulated around Muar, Batu Pahat, Segamat and now, Seremban.
Present in this PC was Johor MCA Deputy Liaison Chairman Tan Kok Hong, UMNO Labis Head Dato’ Sulaiman Taha and several ADUN around the Segamat area. Dr. Chua is Johor MCA State Liaison Chairman.
The Star has the story:
Wednesday January 2, 2008
By NELSON BENJAMIN and HAMDAN RAJA ABDULLAH
I am the man in the tape
SEGAMAT: Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has admitted that he is the politician shown in the sex DVD that is being circulated in Johor.
He said the woman seen in the DVD was a personal friend.
In a press conference yesterday, Dr Chua said: “Who did it and why is obvious – but it is not important now. What is most important is that my family, wife and children have personally accepted my apology.”
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Dr Chua flanked by Tenang assemblyman Datuk Sulaiman Taha (left) and Tan speaking to reporters at the press conference held at the Labis MCA office Tuesday.
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His wife Datin Seri Wong Sek Hin said later in a statement that she and the family would stand by him. Dr Chua, who is MCA vice-president and Labis MP, said he would not be resigning over the sex DVD but would let the Prime Minister decide on the matter.
“I have seen Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting and I have personally apologised to them,” he said, reading from a one-page statement.
He also apologised to Malaysians, his supporters and colleagues.
Dr Chua said he did not record the video clip.
“I saw the DVD on Sunday when a friend gave a copy to me,” he said. He said he was unsure whether the clips were recent or old.
Asked about his political future, Dr Chua said: “I leave it to party members, leaders and the Malaysian public to be the judge. It’s not for me to speculate.”
Dr Chua, who was clad in a yellow batik shirt, said he met with Abdullah on Monday.
Asked about what had transpired and the reactions from Abdullah, Najib and Ong, he said it was better to get the reactions from them as he could not comment on their behalf.
On his next course of action, Dr Chua said: “I will think about it after meeting the press.”
He said that although so far no police report had been lodged, the Inspector General of Police himself has initiated investigations.
“Of course, as a responsible citizen I will assist in the police investigations. It is a crime to intrude into people’s privacy or into a person’s room,” he said.
Dr Chua said it would be business as usual for him. He had earlier attended a function at the Segamat hospital before holding the press conference at 4.10pm.
Also present at the packed press conference were about 100 supporters and leaders, including state MCA deputy liaison chief Tan Kok Hong, Pulai Sebatang assemblyman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong, Senai Assemblyman Chun Yoon Fook and Pengkalan Rinting assemblyman Low Teh Hian.
After the press conference, Dr Chua left for Bekok to meet with the Indian community there. “I will not let people tarnish, prevent and stop me from carrying the duties entrusted to me as a minister, MP and party leader,” he said.
He thanked his colleagues, supporters and Malaysians for their concern and support which he had received through phone calls and SMSes.
Asked how his family was coping, Dr Chua appealed to the press to give him and his family space during this difficult time
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And more about the PC Q & A:
Wednesday January 2, 2008
HEALTH Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek was in an uncomfortable position yesterday as he faced down pressmen. But he was brave and calm as he fielded questions from the reporters.
Q: Datuk, do you know who is behind the tape?
A: If you look at the statement, what is left out is why have they done this tape. The reason is obvious. But that is not in the statement.
Q: Any idea, Datuk, who did it?
A: Who has done it is not important, I already said I will not speculate.
Q: Could it be a political rival?
A: I don’t know and I will not speculate and it is not important.
Q: What is your position now?
A: All the ministers serve at the pleasure of the prime minister.
Q: How about making a police report?
A: I will think about it. The police have already started their own investigation. Intruding into people’s privacy is an offence.
Q: Is this a bid to end your political career?
A: That I do not know and I leave it to all party members, my leaders and all Malaysians to be the judge. I will not speculate.
Q: Could there be some efforts to tarnish what you have done?
A: I have already said the reason the tape was made and the agenda was obvious.
Q: What was the Prime Minister’s reaction when you met him?
A: I met the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and (the) MCA president, and (what their reactions were) I think it is appropriate for you all to ask them. I cannot represent them and give views about myself.
Q: When did you meet the PM?
A: I met the Prime Minister yesterday.
Q: When did you know about the tape?
A: On Sunday.
Q: Have you seen the video?
A: Yes.
Q: How did you get the tape?
A: A friend passed it to me.
Q: Will you make a police report?
A: I will give it serious thought.
Q: How did your family take it?
A: My wife and my children issued a statement today through Bernama.
Q: Are you still doing ministerial work?
A: I have two functions today: one at Segamat Hospital and after this I will go to Bekok to meet the Indian community. I will never let people down, I will not let it affect or hinder me from performing my duties as a minister, MP or party leader.
*************************
It is concluded that Dr. Chua will not go. He arrogant enough to be comfortably confident as to say that he has met the Prime Minister, who is also the BN Chairman, Deputy Prime Minister and party President, explained to them and apologized. When asked about their reactions, he cordially asked the newsmen to get it from the leaders.
The ball is now on the PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s court. Of course Dr. Chua did not do anything criminal in this episode. In fact, the crime was to infringe onto his privacy and then made the DVDs and circulate it around. However, there is a morality issue here that has to be observed.
These sort of morality cases are not entirely new. There is precedence here. In the early nineties, Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker D P Vijandran left after his sexual act caught on tape and distributed. Then Melaka Chief Minister Tan Sri Rahim Thamby Chik. In the late nineties, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd. Taib also left, after being caught trying to “smuggled large sum of money” out from Brisbane, Australia.
Then ever green memory of the most prolific ‘sexual misconduct’ case, which became a really prickly political thorn in history of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’s 22 1/3 years administration, was the sacking of Deputy Prime Minister and UMNO Deputy President Anwar Ibrahim for sodomy and other sexual activities on 2 September 1998. UMNO was even severely affected by this scandal as there was an exodus of members fled the party and the Malay sentiments which was translated in the November 1999 General Elections. That saw four UMNO Cabinet members lost their seat, PAS won a record breaking 27 seats in the Dewan Rakyat, took over oil rich state of Terengganu and almost took Kedah whilst KeAdilan, party in honour of Anwar’s personal struggle formed few months before the GE, scoffed 5 seats.
The last decision made on these morality grounds was the sacking of Selangor Menteri Besar Dato’ Abu Hassan Omar in mid 2000, for allegedly having sexual misdemeanour with his own sister in law. Abu Hassan replaced Muhammad, who was scandalous also. Needless to say, decisions have to be made and the Prime Minister at the time ‘bit the bullet’.
The popular bet is on that PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will do not ask Dr. Chua to leave, not even “take leave” for this. It is typically of his ‘LEMBIK’ness, which was shown more and more, these days. Despite propagating Islam Hadhari as a guidance to his ‘righteousness’ concept of approach and management, he had been seen to want do the popular thing, rather than do the right thing, even on morality issue.
What is funny, that the ‘morality’ issue was not raised by any of the newsmen during PC in Labis late yesterday afternoon. Will the MCA Central Committee, which will be meeting later today to discuss this issue, be bold enough to address the issue of ‘morality’ and how it will affect their voters in the upcoming General Elections?
Former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad said the Chinese are “strategic voters”, whilst in Kota Bahru, 6 May 2007. They will certainly not forget the ‘bumpy roller coaster ride’ of 2007.
The "thirteen million plus Ringgit" guy rambles.... 
Even though he apologized, Dr. Chua must go
Yesterday, was a New Year with a BANG! At 5.00pm in Labis, Segamat, Health Minister and MCA Vice President Dato’ Seri Chua Soi Lek gave a special press conference at his service centre on the issue of “sexual DVD”, which was circulated around Muar, Batu Pahat, Segamat and now, Seremban.
Present in this PC was Johor MCA Deputy Liaison Chairman Tan Kok Hong, UMNO Labis Head Dato’ Sulaiman Taha and several ADUN around the Segamat area. Dr. Chua is Johor MCA State Liaison Chairman.
The Star has the story:
And more about the PC Q & A:
It is concluded that Dr. Chua will not go. He arrogant enough to be comfortably confident as to say that he has met the Prime Minister, who is also the BN Chairman, Deputy Prime Minister and party President, explained to them and apologized. When asked about their reactions, he cordially asked the newsmen to get it from the leaders.
The ball is now on the PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s court. Of course Dr. Chua did not do anything criminal in this episode. In fact, the crime was to infringe onto his privacy and then made the DVDs and circulate it around. However, there is a morality issue here that has to be observed.
These sort of morality cases are not entirely new. There is precedence here. In the early nineties, Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker D P Vijandran left after his sexual act caught on tape and distributed. Then Melaka Chief Minister Tan Sri Rahim Thamby Chik. In the late nineties, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd. Taib also left, after being caught trying to “smuggled large sum of money” out from Brisbane, Australia.
Then ever green memory of the most prolific ‘sexual misconduct’ case, which became a really prickly political thorn in history of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’s 22 1/3 years administration, was the sacking of Deputy Prime Minister and UMNO Deputy President Anwar Ibrahim for sodomy and other sexual activities on 2 September 1998. UMNO was even severely affected by this scandal as there was an exodus of members fled the party and the Malay sentiments which was translated in the November 1999 General Elections. That saw four UMNO Cabinet members lost their seat, PAS won a record breaking 27 seats in the Dewan Rakyat, took over oil rich state of Terengganu and almost took Kedah whilst KeAdilan, party in honour of Anwar’s personal struggle formed few months before the GE, scoffed 5 seats.
The last decision made on these morality grounds was the sacking of Selangor Menteri Besar Dato’ Abu Hassan Omar in mid 2000, for allegedly having sexual misdemeanour with his own sister in law. Abu Hassan replaced Muhammad, who was scandalous also. Needless to say, decisions have to be made and the Prime Minister at the time ‘bit the bullet’.
The popular bet is on that PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will do not ask Dr. Chua to leave, not even “take leave” for this. It is typically of his ‘LEMBIK’ness, which was shown more and more, these days. Despite propagating Islam Hadhari as a guidance to his ‘righteousness’ concept of approach and management, he had been seen to want do the popular thing, rather than do the right thing, even on morality issue.
What is funny, that the ‘morality’ issue was not raised by any of the newsmen during PC in Labis late yesterday afternoon. Will the MCA Central Committee, which will be meeting later today to discuss this issue, be bold enough to address the issue of ‘morality’ and how it will affect their voters in the upcoming General Elections?
Former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad said the Chinese are “strategic voters”, whilst in Kota Bahru, 6 May 2007. They will certainly not forget the ‘bumpy roller coaster ride’ of 2007.
- Commentary
on January 2, 2008 at 10:17 Comments (2)