Ka Ting is acting Health Minister

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting has been appointed acting Health Minister from today, Bernama reports.

The Health Minister's portfolio has been traditionally held by the MCA, the second largest party in the ruling coalition.

"I have already informed him," Prime Minister Datuk Abdullah Badawi said in a statement to Bernama.

The post fell vacant following the resignation of Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek two days ago after he admitted being featured in a sex video with a woman friend.

Dr Chua...what next?

Latest: January 02, 2008 17:02 PM
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.

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."

Continue:here

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.

I am the one...

...admits Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi to being the man in the sex DVD circulating in Johor.

Dr Chua, who is MCA Vice President, admitted during a press conference in Labis, Johor today, that he was the man captured on tape engaging in sexual acts with a young woman.

But despite his admission of guilt over the matter, Dr Chua stressed that he would not resign from his government and party positions.

"I serve at the pleasure of the prime minister," he said. "I will not allow (other) people to jeopardise or obstruct my duties."

Reading from a prepared statement at a press conference at the Labis MCA office here, the minister said he had met Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Putrajaya yesterday to explain the matter and personally apologise to the prime minister.

Bernama has the full story here