Chua Resigns

MCA Vice-President Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has resigned as Health Minister, and from all party posts as well as MP for Labis, 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.”

He hoped that his resignation would be a lesson to all leaders whether in the MCA or other component parties of the Barisan Nasional (BN).

Dr Chua, who took his oath of office as Health Minister on March 30, 2004 after winning the Labis parliamentary seat in the general election that year by defeating DAP’s Tee Gey Yan with 10,729 majority votes, said he decided to relinquish all the posts after getting feedback from the people.

“After making my admission (yesterday), I was hoping that Malaysians would accept my apologies but from the feedback I received, they could not accept.”

Dr Chua said he did not want to be a burden to the party and government if he continued holding the posts.

He said as an MCA member who had held government positions for almost 20 years, he would remain loyal to the party and BN leadership.

The medical doctor who graduated from Universiti Malaya in 1973, began his political career as a Johor state assemblyman by winning the Penggeram seat in the 1986 general election and held the seat for four consecutive terms until 2004.

He was appointed state executive councillor for Human Resource, Consumer Affairs and Science and Technology (1990-1995); Environment, Consumer Affairs and Science and Technology (1995-1999); and Tourism and Environment (1999-2004).