Soi Lek Resigns From All Party, Government Posts
PUTRAJAYA, Jan 2 (Bernama) -- MCA vice- president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, who yesterday admitted to being the man in the sex DVD, copies of which are widely distributed in Johor, today resigned as Health Minister, MP for Labis and from all party posts with immediate effect.Continue:here
Dr Chua, 61, made the announcement himself at a press conference held at the ministry at 3.35pm.
Yesterday, at a press conference in Labis, Johor, he apologised to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Cabinet ministers, party leaders and his wife and family for what had happened.
He also described the woman who appeared in the videotape engaging in sexual acts with him as his personal friend and that he did not make the recording himself.
Dr Chua said his resignation had been conveyed to the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting.
"The (resignation) letter is finding its way to his (Abdullah's) office," he said at the packed press conference which lasted more than 45 minutes.
Clad in a dark suit, Dr Chua who was cool and collected, said: "I am relinquishing my position as Health Minister, MCA vice-president, Labis MP, Johor MCA liaison chief and Batu Pahat MCA division chief."
Dr Chua's Decision To Quit Appropriate, says Pak Lah: here
MCA Presidential Council Regrets Chua's Decision To Resign: here
UPDATE: January 02, 2008 15:53 PM
Ok. He did the honourable thing. He resigned as Health Minister and from all party posts as well as Labis MP with immediate effect, according to a one-para BERNAMA flash.
It seems, Dr Chua resigned ahead of the presidential meeting, scheduled for 5.00pm. See here.
EARLIER STORY:
The fate of Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek will be known after the MCA Presidential Council holds its emergency meeting today.
Party president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting has called for the meeting to discuss the DVD issue involving Datuk Seri Dr Chua, who is its Vice-President. Dr Chua is also the Health Minister.
Datuk Seri Ong is expected to issue a statement after the council meeting.
“I take note of the statement issued by Dr Chua and, as it is an important matter for the party leadership to discuss, the party is calling an emergency presidential meeting,” he said, according to the Star.
20 comments:
What has he done or achieve as Health Minister? Make simple things complicated thus adding cost to consumers.
One eg is the insistence of holograms on all health and pharma products under pretext of authenticating products as approved by Kem Kesihatan. Every product already has pbkd batch number embossed on the packaging, why hologram sticker necessary?
Hologram stickers come with a cost. Imagine how many packages of pharma and supplements sold nationwide per day. If the hologram franchise holder makes 10 sen (which I doubt as that cheap).
I understand the pharma enforcement has no equipment to scan the hologram when its personnel going on spot checks (according to my sources).
The manufacturer or main distributor buys the hologram from the authority and the labelling is done at the warehouse by the storekeepers.
I understand the holograms are open to imitations.
Chua Soi Lek also wanted to do away with bulk packing. This means more holograms per pack. Clinics usually buy derma cream in 500 gm packs and dispense in 5, 10 gms as per required to save cost for patients.
To do away with bulk packing also means patients may be forced to swallow more than they need.
From what I hear from the grapevine, he is the worst Health Minister tho the first qualifed doc to hold the portfolio.
Just do the arithmetic, a 500 gm requires ONE hologram sticker. 10 gm per tube works out to 50 hologram stickers needed for 500 gm of the same cream.
Then there are tablets in 500's pack which must also come in strip packs like panadol. What if patient needs only 15 tabs but he has to buy 2X10's. he ends up buying more than he needs.
Kak Ton, these are not my opinions but docs and pharmacists who expressed their misgivings to me.
The Labis Parliamentary seat has been left vacant with Dr Chua's resignation as its MP.
There is going to be a by-election soon announced by the Election Commission.
It'd be interesting to see the outcome of the by-election.
Time to test the waters.
Datuk Seri Dr Chua has taken the right decision because his image as a public figure, a national leader and most importantly a Minister has been marred.
Admitting that the 'actor' in the sex video does not solve the problem or make the rakyat forgive him.
What could be the reason for the round-about turn in his decision?
He said he was not going to resign yesterday. And today he did without even waiting for the party council to meet and decide on the sex video.
Could it be that he had no choice because he was forced to resign from all the posts he was holding?
What so honourable about resigning from all the post he was holding?
I believe Dr Chua had no choice and knew that a decision taken by the party presidential council would not be in his favour.
With the general elections looming, the MCA and te Barisan can ill afford such a scandal.
And for him to push the PM and the MCA president to make the decision for him, is rather unfair.
This is a case of "sendiri buat, sendiri tanggung."
Many people salute him for owning up. But was he repentant? His U-turn as pointed out by Puteri says it all.
I was at one time offering emotional support to male terminally ill patients. Very often I made calls on their homes. I called up to make sure there were other people in the house to avoid any chance the wife paying personal attention to me. It might be innocent acts of hospitality but the sick can sometimes be oversensitive.
I won't follow up on widows alone. It's a matter of self-control to avoid this kind of temptation. This is an area I don't test my limits.
We cannot always put up an alibi that we are weak in temptation. It's a matter of self-respect and respecting dignity of others.
Datuk Ong Ka Chuan to replace him!
More pics & videos on Chua Soi Lek resignation go here:
http://powerpresent.blogspot.com/2008/01/more-pics-video-chua-soi-lek.html
:)
haha.. I thought he'll be up there long enuf for me to serve under him....
Unlucky!
The health ministry needs an overhaul. I have not touched on new hospitals that cannot function. Of operating theatres infested with fungus in the ducts. We don't know the outcomes of the investigation and whether the parties responsible were penalised.
As far as I can recall one was in Kedah, the other in Klang valley or Johor.
Just cos he is a medical doc makes him a good health minister?
Family accepted my apologies. Wife stands by me.
Well, he’s got an angel of a wife. She forgave him. My wife would have “bobbit” me, if you know what I mean.
A mistake has been made. Instead of regretting, Soi Lek was reported in Bernama to say "My biggest mistake was to fulfil my duties as Minister and VP of MCA.
Ranting and blaming on political conspiracy do more harm than good to his credibility and maturity as a leader.
During my boyhood, whenever I was caught for mischief, I won't even dare to rationalise and blame anybody. This is basic lesson in taking responsibility for one's act.
hey hannan,
I read too much into your comment. Lol.
Quote "...thought he'll be up there long enuf for me to serve under him."
Then I looked at yr profile. Oooohhh, I see. You are a medic student in Moscow! :)
Kak Ton,
My sincerest apologies for flooding your blogs with unpleasant comments on Soi Lek the minister not the man.
hi hi&lo,
No apologies needed. Have your say so long as it aint defamatory.
Anon 9:22PM
The EC chairman has said that there is no need for a by- election.
According to Tan Sri Abdul Rashid, an election can be held two years prior to the expiry of the parliamentary term as provided for under Article (1) 54 of the Federal Constitution.
Since we have already gone past three and a half years and have a balance of one and a half years & based on the Constitution, there is no need (for a by-election).
However, a by-election could be held if there was a request by the party in power to fill the vacancy.
The BN Govt can ask the Speaker in Parliament to inform the Election Commission that it needs the seat to be filled.
However, since the Barisan Nasional controlled more than two-thirds of the Dewan Rakyat, the vacancy need not be filled.
Soi Lek resigned not cos of public outcry. It's his own colleagues in MCA that wanted him out. When did BN start listening to the people?
I wonder how many public figures are secretly reciting the mantra “There but for the grace of God go I” in the aftermath of Chua’s infamous and politically costly sex romp?
His wife has my sympathy for having to endure this very public humiliation.
Yes, I agree with SESAT. Any sympathy should go to the wife. She is able to forgive the unforgivable.
As for me, the question is not being able to trust Soi Lek as my minister. Forgive him or not does not arise.
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