Chua Soi Lek
Encyclopedia
Datuk Seri
Dr.
Chua Soi Lek ; born 2 January 1947, also known as Chua Kin Seng, is a Malaysian politician from the state of Johor
. He is married to Datin Seri Wong Sek Hin. They have three children. He is the President of the Malaysian Chinese Association
.
He was trained in psychology
and practiced psychiatry
before entering politics through his involvement with the Malaysian Chinese Association
(MCA). He held the post of Minister of Health from 2004 until 2008.
Chua set up his medical practice in 1977 after serving as a medical officer at the Batu Pahat Hospital. He sold the clinic in 1990 to pursue a full-time career in politics with MCA.
, he contested for the Labis
parliamentary seat under the Barisan Nasional coalition and claimed victory. The then Prime Minister
Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
appointed Chua into the Malaysian cabinet
as the Minister of Health following that victory.
He held several prominent posts throughout his later career. He was the Member of Parliament
for Labis, a MCA vice-president, Johor MCA state liaison committee chairman as well as Batu Pahat MCA division chairman until he resigned from all public and political offices on January 2, 2008 due to the eruption of a sensational sex scandal.
that was widely being circulated in Johor
. The two DVDs
were distributed anonymously in Muar
and other towns in Johor show Dr Chua having sex with a young woman, described by him as a "personal friend." The DVDs are believed to be wireless hidden camera
recordings in a hotel suite.
He claimed no involvement in the filming or production of the DVD in question. On January 2, 2008, he formally announced his resignation from all posts including Member of Parliament for Labis
, vice presidency of MCA
, and Minister of Health at a press conference.
Chua later remarked his downfall was due to his dedication to his work as Health Minister and MCA Vice-President, which caused his political rivals to grow suspicious of him.
, step down to take responsibility.
He returned to active politics in the second half of 2008 and won the Batu Pahat
Division Chairman post uncontested. Then he contested the MCA deputy presidency, defeating Ong Ka Chuan
, Donald Lim and Lee Hak Teik in a four-cornered fight.
Despite that, Dr Chua was only appointed chairman of the Government Policy Monitoring bureau and left out of the MCA leadership in Johor by Tee Keat. This was seen as a move to isolate Dr Chua politically. Eventually, Chua was expelled from the party in August 2009 by the MCA Disciplinary Committee for his sex scandal.
The EGM was held on 10 October, where a number of resolutions were made challenging Chua Soi Lek's removal from MCA and his sacking as deputy president of MCA. A vote of no confidence against Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat passed by 14 votes. In the other resolution, Dr Chua's expulsion was overturned. Ong and Chua both refused to resign, and united under a "greater unity plan," putting their differences aside temporarily. However, some central committee members, led by Liow Tiong Lai
, previously aligned with Ong, demanded fresh elections.
, in resigning. With the resignation of two-thirds of the central committee, fresh elections were to be held per the party constitution. Chua contested the presidency against incumbent Ong Tee Keat
and former president Ong Ka Ting
. In the three-cornered fight, Chua emerged victorious while incumbent Tee Keat finished in third place. Since becoming president, Chua has focused on rebuilding the appearance of unity within MCA after a year of public infighting.
Malay titles
The Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....
Dr.
Doctor (title)
Doctor, as a title, originates from the Latin word of the same spelling and meaning. The word is originally an agentive noun of the Latin verb docēre . It has been used as an honored academic title for over a millennium in Europe, where it dates back to the rise of the university. This use spread...
Chua Soi Lek ; born 2 January 1947, also known as Chua Kin Seng, is a Malaysian politician from the state of Johor
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
. He is married to Datin Seri Wong Sek Hin. They have three children. He is the President of the Malaysian Chinese Association
Malaysian Chinese Association
Malaysian Chinese Association is a uni-racial political party in Malaysia that represents the Malaysian Chinese ethnicity; it is one of the three major component parties of the ruling coalition in Malaysia called the Barisan Nasional in Malay, or National Front in English.Along with the largest...
.
He was trained in psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
and practiced psychiatry
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
before entering politics through his involvement with the Malaysian Chinese Association
Malaysian Chinese Association
Malaysian Chinese Association is a uni-racial political party in Malaysia that represents the Malaysian Chinese ethnicity; it is one of the three major component parties of the ruling coalition in Malaysia called the Barisan Nasional in Malay, or National Front in English.Along with the largest...
(MCA). He held the post of Minister of Health from 2004 until 2008.
Chua set up his medical practice in 1977 after serving as a medical officer at the Batu Pahat Hospital. He sold the clinic in 1990 to pursue a full-time career in politics with MCA.
Political career
He was first elected as a state assemblyman for Penggaram, Johor on MCA's ticket in 1986. He continued to serve Penggaram for 18 years through four consecutive state elections. Later, he became a state executive councilor. In the 2004 general electionMalaysian general election, 2004
General elections were held in Malaysia on March 21, 2004. The incumbent National Front government of Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was re-elected with an increased majority.-Election results:...
, he contested for the Labis
Labis
Labis is the second largest town in the district of Segamat, Johor, Malaysia, with a population of about 20,000 people. It has a large Chinese community. Labis is an agricultural town whose main export is rubber...
parliamentary seat under the Barisan Nasional coalition and claimed victory. The then Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Malaysia
The Prime Minister of Malaysia is the indirectly elected head of government of Malaysia. He is officially appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the head of state, who in HM's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House of Representatives , the...
Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Tun Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi is a Malaysian politician who served as Prime Minister from 2003 to 2009. He was also the President of the United Malays National Organisation , the largest political party in Malaysia, and led the governing Barisan Nasional parliamentary coalition...
appointed Chua into the Malaysian cabinet
Cabinet of Malaysia
The Cabinet of Malaysia is the executive branch of Malaysia's government. Led by the Prime Minister, the cabinet is a council of ministers who are accountable collectively to the Parliament. According to the Article 43 of the Constitution, members of the Cabinet can only be selected from members...
as the Minister of Health following that victory.
He held several prominent posts throughout his later career. He was the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Labis, a MCA vice-president, Johor MCA state liaison committee chairman as well as Batu Pahat MCA division chairman until he resigned from all public and political offices on January 2, 2008 due to the eruption of a sensational sex scandal.
Sex scandal
On January 1, 2008, Chua admitted that he was the person featured in a sensational sex DVDDVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
that was widely being circulated in Johor
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
. The two DVDs
Celebrity sex tape
A celebrity sex tape is typically an amateur pornographic video recording involving one or more celebrity famous person which has been, intentionally or unintentionally, made available publicly....
were distributed anonymously in Muar
Muar (town)
Muar, also known as Bandar Maharani is a town geopolitically situated in Muar District in the region or area of Muar in northwestern Johor, Malaysia...
and other towns in Johor show Dr Chua having sex with a young woman, described by him as a "personal friend." The DVDs are believed to be wireless hidden camera
Closed-circuit television
Closed-circuit television is the use of video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place, on a limited set of monitors....
recordings in a hotel suite.
He claimed no involvement in the filming or production of the DVD in question. On January 2, 2008, he formally announced his resignation from all posts including Member of Parliament for Labis
Labis
Labis is the second largest town in the district of Segamat, Johor, Malaysia, with a population of about 20,000 people. It has a large Chinese community. Labis is an agricultural town whose main export is rubber...
, vice presidency of MCA
Malaysian Chinese Association
Malaysian Chinese Association is a uni-racial political party in Malaysia that represents the Malaysian Chinese ethnicity; it is one of the three major component parties of the ruling coalition in Malaysia called the Barisan Nasional in Malay, or National Front in English.Along with the largest...
, and Minister of Health at a press conference.
Chua later remarked his downfall was due to his dedication to his work as Health Minister and MCA Vice-President, which caused his political rivals to grow suspicious of him.
MCA deputy presidency
In the 2008 general elections, MCA won only 19 parliamentary seats out of 40 they contested. Some grassroots leaders and former top leaders including Dr Chua, demanded the President, Ong Ka TingOng Ka Ting
Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting is a Malaysian politician and a former Minister of Housing and Local Government in the Malaysian cabinet. He is also the former President of the Malaysian Chinese Association and is the Member of Parliament for Kulai.-Early life:...
, step down to take responsibility.
He returned to active politics in the second half of 2008 and won the Batu Pahat
Batu Pahat
Batu Pahat is a district in the state of Johor, Malaysia. It lies south-east of Muar, south-west of Kluang, north-west of Pontian, and south of Segamat and the new Ledang district. The capital of the district is Bandar Penggaram, Batu Pahat....
Division Chairman post uncontested. Then he contested the MCA deputy presidency, defeating Ong Ka Chuan
Ong Ka Chuan
Dato' Seri Ong Ka Chuan is a Malaysian politician and the Member of Parliament for Tanjung Malim, Perak. He is a former Minister of Housing and Local Government and former secretary-general of the Malaysian Chinese Association , a component party of the Barisan Nasional coalition.Ong is the older...
, Donald Lim and Lee Hak Teik in a four-cornered fight.
Despite that, Dr Chua was only appointed chairman of the Government Policy Monitoring bureau and left out of the MCA leadership in Johor by Tee Keat. This was seen as a move to isolate Dr Chua politically. Eventually, Chua was expelled from the party in August 2009 by the MCA Disciplinary Committee for his sex scandal.
2009 Extraordinary General Meeting
In 2009, Chua Soi Lek's supporters sparked an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) to challenge Ong Tee Keat's Presidency and reinstitate Dr Chua as a member and deputy president.The EGM was held on 10 October, where a number of resolutions were made challenging Chua Soi Lek's removal from MCA and his sacking as deputy president of MCA. A vote of no confidence against Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat passed by 14 votes. In the other resolution, Dr Chua's expulsion was overturned. Ong and Chua both refused to resign, and united under a "greater unity plan," putting their differences aside temporarily. However, some central committee members, led by Liow Tiong Lai
Liow Tiong Lai
Dato' Sri Liow Tiong Lai is a Malaysian politician who is currently serving as the Health Minister in the Malaysian cabinet. He is the deputy president of the Malaysian Chinese Association , a major component party of the Barisan Nasional ruling coalition.-Background:Born in Jasin, Malacca, Liow...
, previously aligned with Ong, demanded fresh elections.
MCA presidency
In early March 2010, Chua and his supporters in the central committee (CC), joined other CCs led by Liow Tiong LaiLiow Tiong Lai
Dato' Sri Liow Tiong Lai is a Malaysian politician who is currently serving as the Health Minister in the Malaysian cabinet. He is the deputy president of the Malaysian Chinese Association , a major component party of the Barisan Nasional ruling coalition.-Background:Born in Jasin, Malacca, Liow...
, in resigning. With the resignation of two-thirds of the central committee, fresh elections were to be held per the party constitution. Chua contested the presidency against incumbent Ong Tee Keat
Ong Tee Keat
Dato' Sri Ong Tee Keat is a Malaysian politician and current Member of Parliament for Pandan. He was the Transport Minister in the Malaysian federal cabinet from March 18, 2008 to June 4, 2010. He was the 8th president of the Malaysian Chinese Association .-Personal life:The son of a fishmonger,...
and former president Ong Ka Ting
Ong Ka Ting
Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting is a Malaysian politician and a former Minister of Housing and Local Government in the Malaysian cabinet. He is also the former President of the Malaysian Chinese Association and is the Member of Parliament for Kulai.-Early life:...
. In the three-cornered fight, Chua emerged victorious while incumbent Tee Keat finished in third place. Since becoming president, Chua has focused on rebuilding the appearance of unity within MCA after a year of public infighting.
External links
- Dr. Chua Soi Lek — Official blog
- MCA - Official MCA Site