Labis - MCA Vs. MCA

Labis (P142)

Teoh Eng Ching Vs Dr. Chua Soi Lek's son

Labis is the second largest town in the district of Segamat, Johor, Malaysia, with a population of about 20,000 people. Labis is an agricultural town whose main export is rubber. Malays constitute, 36.66%, Chinese 47.85%, Indians 15.39% and Others: 0.10%.

Labis is an MCA stronghold. This seat was held by former Health Minister and MCA Vice President, Dr.Chua Soi Lek, and prior to that, by the former Transport Minister and MCA president, Dr Ling Liong Sik.

On January 2 last month, Dr. Chua relinquished all the posts pursuant to the sex DVD scandal, including MP for Labis but the Election Commission decided not to have a by-election [presumably because of the pending news of the general elections at that time]. Dr. Chua implied to have been set-up by political rivals pertaining to the sex DVD. Well, in politics, this is just one of the many occupational hazards a politician has to face.

In the 2004 general election, Dr. Chua defeated a DAP candidate by a majority of 10,279 votes.

In this election, the MCA selected Dr. Chua Soi Lek's son, Chua Tee Yong, 31, to contest for this seat [presumably to pasify Dr. Chua's supporters in Labis]. This is Chua Jr.'s first time contesting in the general elections. Whilst he is a political newbie, his father is not. Let's not forget that Dr. Chua Soi Lek is still a well respected and influential MCA politician despite the sex scandal.

Chua Jr.'s challenger in Labis is Teo Eng Ching, 32, from the DAP, who is seven months pregnant, Her husband Chang Teck Chee, 32, also from the DAP, is contesting the Bekok seat.

Chua Jr. is expected to win this seat, but by how many votes. And will MCA give him a party and cabinet post after the election ? Will his father's political rivals seek to sabotage him in this general election or thereafter ?

This election in Labis is about MCA Vs. MCA, nothing much to do with the opposition.

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