Chua Soi Lek Issues

'My biggest mistake'

Morality is part of leadership | Chua's resignation sets a precedent: NGO

By: (Thu, 03 Jan 2008)

PUTRAJAYA (Jan 3, 2007): Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek today took a swipe at his political rivals as he cleared his office in the Health Ministry, saying speculations about his agenda had caused him to become a target for people to bring him down politically.

"My biggest mistake ever since coming to KL is to fulfil my duties as the Health Minister and as MCA vice-president," declared Chua, who quit as Health Minister and from all party posts yesterday after admitting he was the man featured in a sex DVD, copies of which were widely distributed in Johor.

The 61-year-old Johor politician said his visits to inspect health facilities nationwide and meeting MCA grassroots members gave rise to speculations that he had a political agenda, prompting some people to target him to bring him down.

"As Health Minister and MCA vice-president, I had to travel country-wide to know about the medical facilities and to let MCA members know me as I am a new face in national politics.

(Chua was a state executive councillor in Johor before being named as a federal minister three-and-a-half-years ago.)

"So I feel proud to have visited no fewer than 100 over hospitals and over 50 health facilities during the three-and-a-half-years as a minister," he told an unscheduled press conference in his Ministry.

Chua said when he went to some hospitals, he was shocked when told no politician had ever visited the hospitals despite operating for more than 30 years. "I thought they were joking or being polite but when I looked at the hospitals, it was true."

"And because of this and when I meet party members as I travel, there are a lot of speculations that I have political agenda and that I am a very ambitious man ... I think that was my biggest mistake," said a relaxed Chua, who fielded questions with his trademark sarcasm.

"A lot of people were highly suspicious of my movements, why is this man working so hard meeting members ... so he must have a political agenda. He must be ambitious. This was made worse by the press. The press will always say Dr Chua is one who may be mounting a challenge against the deputy president, against the president.

"The press helped to kill me, to be honest ... so the truth is that the pen is mightier than the sword," he said.

Chua, a medical doctor, said he was unhappy with the "political behaviour of some leaders" but did not elaborate.

Asked if he knew his political foes, he said: "People who are suspicious of me are the people who will gain from being suspicious of me. This is Chua Soi Lek. I will never change. People say I am arrogant but I don't think I am arrogant. I am just telling you the truth."

Giving parting advice to the incoming Health Minister, he said: "If you move too fast, then you too would be subjected to speculations ... this is the political reality."

"I agree when some people say this is the Ministry of Hell, not because of the ministry work but because of the political system, but when you work too hard, people think you are (politically) ambitious or that you have political agenda."

Chua said he understood the political reality in the country that once "you are no more a political leader, people tend to forget you or stay away from you".

"Sometimes people may not recognise you anymore ... I have seen in my own eyes former ministers who attend functions have no place to sit," said the Labis MP.

Asked if he would take a break after this bitter episode, Chua said he would not go on a vacation as "it is a wrong prescription".

"When a person is upset and he goes on leave, he has more time to think and speculate and that would aggravate his feelings ... as far as I am concerned I am not upset. I have stripped-bare myself to all the 26 million Malaysians about my private life. What is there to be sad. I have resigned from all government posts and party posts, what more do they want.

"They cannot possibly ask for my head because the Malaysian political struggle is not a do or die battle like in Pakistan."

He said he would not go on a tour to meet MCA grassroots members but would attend functions if invited.

"If I travel now I have to use my own expenses. I have to call and book (flights and hotel rooms). I don't even know how to book a ticket, a hotel room ... that's the truth because I have been enjoying these facilities from the government for the last 18 years."

He also reiterated that the circulation of the sex DVD was not due to business rivalry as he had never been involved in business and also had nothing to do with money (debt).

"Who are my enemies, I really don't know. But I am a politician and politicians will have enemies and supporters, this nobody can deny."

He reiterated that he would not pursue the matter of who did the tape.

"Even the police will have difficulty because it was done some six to eight months ago ... if you look at the tape, there is a date there also. The police have asked me to give a statement on the matter when I have the time."

LETTER

Morality is part of leadership

I just looked up the Rukun Negara and the fifth tenement reads ‘Kesopanan dan Kesusilaan’ which basically means ‘Courtesy/Good Behaviour and Morality’.

Morality (from the Latin moralitas "manner, character, proper behavior") has three principal meanings.

In its first descriptive usage, morality means a code of conduct held to be authoritative in matters of right and wrong, whether by society, philosophy, religion, or individual conscience.

In its second, normative and universal, sense, morality refers to an ideal code of conduct, one which would be espoused in preference to alternatives by all rational people, under specified conditions. To deny "morality" in this sense is a position known as moral skepticism.

In its third usage "morality" is synonymous with ethics, the systematic philosophical study of the moral domain.

Morality can also be seen as the collection of beliefs as to what constitutes a good life. Since throughout most of human history, religions have provided both visions and regulations for an ideal life, morality is often confused with religious precepts.

In secular communities, lifestyle choices, which represent an individual’s conception of the good life, are often discussed in terms of "morality". Individuals sometimes feel that making an appropriate lifestyle choice invokes a true morality, and that accepted codes of conduct within their chosen community are fundamentally moral, even when such codes deviate from more general social principles.

Moral codes are often complex definitions of right and wrong that are based upon well-defined value systems. Although some people might think that a moral code is simple, rarely is there anything simple about one’s values, ethics, etc. or, for that matter, the judgment of those of others. The difficulty lies in the fact that morals are often part of a religion and more often than not about culture codes.

Whether the private lives of politicians are a public morals issue is not a matter of agreement, internationally speaking; the existence of an extra-marital relationship of a minister would in some countries be considered a revelation well within the sphere of the public interest, while in other countries it would be considered quite irrelevant.

In light of the recent exploits of our former Health Minister and his declaration that some Malaysians have a holier-than-thou attitude, some of us may have taken on the attitude of Mrs Patrick Campbell (Feb 9, 1865 – April 9, 1940) – one of the most successful British stage actresses of her generation - who said that she didn’t care what people did as long as they "didn't frighten the horses".

At the same time, her now famous remark shows that in some sense even high tolerance expects a public limitation on behaviour (sexual conduct is implied here).

Coming back to the Rukun Negara, we expect our children to recite it throughout their school years. Unfortunately the same requirement does not extend to us adults, in particular our public figures, i.e. ministers.

I’m quite ignorant about the oath/declaration taken by ministers during their swearing in ceremony. Do they make any solemn oath to uphold the moral fibres of this society and become exemplary leaders?

We often urge our young people to look up to these public figures as role models – but if they make a huge mistake and yet expect to be just given a slap on the wrist, what kind of message are we passing on to our young people?

It would appear that we are condoning extra-marital affairs and adultery. In instances like this, we cannot compare ourselves to the Western countries and sweep everything under the carpet. We are Malaysians and our culture and upbringing is so much different from the West, and most importantly we are guided by our religious beliefs.

A public figure, in particular a minister has no right to say that his personal life is his business and nobody else’s. And hiding behind the "it does not pay to be honest" line is not going to gain any sympathy from anyone. Has he forgotten that he was elected to the post by the people and as such, we the voters and the tax payers have a right to demand a certain degree of conduct from him?

Patricia Pereira
Kuala Lumpur

Chua's resignation sets a precedent: NGO
Kimberley Lau, Husna Yusop and Pauline Puah

PETALING JAYA (Jan 3, 2008): Former Health Minister and MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek's resignation was the right thing to do and should be examplified by other government officials who have been accused of misconduct.

"People holding public office are held to high standards of conduct and behaviour, and rightly so. The higher the office, the more responsibility they owe to the public," said Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan.

"In the circumstances, the minister's resignation was the right thing to do. It accords with transparency and public accountability. The whole incident is regrettable but he did do the right thing ultimately."

Chua, yesterday, relinquished all his government and party posts and as Labis MP with immediate effect after he confessed to be the man in a sex video which was randomly distributed in the form of two DVDs in Johor.

Political analyst Wong Chin Huat said Chua's resignation is praise-worthy because many other ministers, who have been accused of misdemeanor, have not done so.

"I judge a politician by what he does in office and not in his private life, unless whatever they do in private affects their ability to perform their duty.

"Chua should not be the first one to resign. There are many ministers, those whose ability and competence have been questioned, should've stepped down rather than Chua," he said, citing Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy's handling of the Port Klang Free Zone project as an example.

"In that sense, Chua's resignation is commendable because he has done it before other ministers who have more compelling reasons to resign."

Youth For Change (Y4C) convener Lee Khai Loon said while Chua should be given credit for his swift resignation from all government posts, bigger issues of accountability lingered in the air.

"A lot of officials who commit mistakes, such as corruption, refuse to answer to the public. They hold on their positions and sit there until they are proven guilty."

Lee said Chua's resignation should set a precedent for other cases of misdemeanor.

He said any officials who are alleged to have commited mistakes should be suspended until their innocence is proven, rather than allowing them to hold office until proven guilty.

"If someone denies it (the accusation), it should not be left at that. This is a matter of public interest and affects the country's policy. The question in Chua's case is if there was a misuse of power instead of the currently highlighted moral issue."

Citizen Think Tank, an internet-based strategy to achieve knowledge democracy, feels that Chua's resignation is not sincere.

The website's moderator Dzul Bahrin felt the minister's resignation was only tendered after pressure was exerted by numerous parties.

Other comments from fellow politicians:

• Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein: Chua has set the standard for all leaders by putting party’s interest first above self interest, Any leaders or those holding high posts in the government and party should emulate Chua’s decision when involved in a situation which would affect the image of the party.

"What has happened had actually strengthened the people’s perception towards our leaders. This is a practice which should be emulated by all.

"All those holding high posts in the government or party must take the same stand if their action had tarnished the image of an institution. The institution’s interest must be placed higher than that of personal interest."

• Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon: Chua's decision to resign from all his posts showed that he is a responsible person who willingly accept the consequences of his actions.

"Although there is a moral issue here, it must be stressed that he willingly took responsibility for his mistakes. It also showed that he is accountable and he also admitted to making a mistake."

• Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang: Some MCA leaders should emulate Chua's example in bearing full responsibility for their mistakes.

He renewed his call for Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy to resign over his handling of RM4.6 billion Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal.

--- end ---