Chew may invited as Wanita advisor

themalaysianinsider


Chew speaks to the press on her resignation. Standing on the right is Yu. — Picture by Choo Choy May

By Clara Chooi

KUALA LUMPUR, April 8 — Wanita MCA chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, who today resigned from all party posts, will likely be invited to be an advisor to the wing.

Her deputy, Datuk Yu Chok Tow, who has now replaced Chew as wing chairman, told reporters that an emergency central committee meeting would be held next week for the purpose of filling all the vacancies following the latter’s resignation today.

“We respect her decision and we feel that her move was unprecedented and highly admirable. It shows that she is truly a woman of principle,” said Yu after Chew announced her resignation this afternoon.

She added that in view of that, the wing still felt that Chew was an able leader and could still contribute to the party through other means.

“We will consider inviting her to be a part of the wing by appointing her as an advisor. We will discuss this during the emergency CC meeting,” she said, adding that the date of the meeting was yet to be confirmed.

Yu said the wing’s entire central committee, comprising over 60 members, had been unanimous in its attempt to dissuade Chew from going through with her resignation.

“There were many reasons we felt she should stay but she was very firm and she held on to her principles,” said Yu.

She said that despite the pleas from CC members, Chew had insisted on resigning in order to take full responsibility for her actions and express the high standard of integrity and accountability expected of the Wanita MCA.

“Her resignation is to defend the dignity of women and to safeguard the integrity, image and reputation of the party.

“Her political and personal code of conduct has always been based on principles, integrity and accountability,” said Yu.

She said Chew’s leadership would be greatly missed as the latter had always been a fierce advocate of integrity and high moral values.

“We admire her resolute commitment and strong conviction in upholding and defending her principles. Her resignation bears testimony to her devotion to honour and principles,” said Yu.

In announcing her resignation today, Chew had said that her reason for quitting from her posts was because she could not bear to accept the tainted past of the party’s present president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

Dr Chua, a former deputy president, won the party presidency during the party polls on March 28. His political career was damaged in 2007 when CDs containing a long video of him engaging in sexual acts with a woman in a hotel room began circulating.

After admitting that he was the man in the video, Dr Chua resigned from all his party and government posts, including that of health minister, MCA vice-president, Labis MP, Johor MCA chairman and Batu Pahat division chairman.

He made a comeback in 2008 however when he clinched the party’s deputy presidency during the party elections.

Chew had made a brave pledge last November after the party’s extraordinary general meeting on Oct 10, that she would resign if Dr Chua were to become president.

After chairing her last central committee meeting here today, Chew confirmed that she had resigned with immediate effect from all party posts, including that of Wanita MCA chairman, Wanita Selangor chairman and MCA Crisis Relief Squad chief.

She had also announced that she would relinquish her government posts, which was offered to her due to her post as Wanita MCA chairman, and would submit her resignation letter as a senator and Women, Family and Community Development deputy minister tomorrow.