Screenshots: The curse... Soi Lek quits all

Chua Soi Lek announced his resignation as the Minister of Health and the MP for Labis this afternoon, after the Cabinet meeting.

He has also relinquished party posts at all levels, including the position of party vice president. All resignations shall take immediate effect, said the Little Birds.

Earlier, Soi Lek has vowed to stay on. "I will never let people down, I will not let it affect or hinder me from performing my duties as a minister, MP or party leader," he said yesterday.

However, at the press conference today he said: "I am afraid if I continue to hold the positions in the government or the party, it would be a burden to the government and the party, especially in the context of Islam Hadhari and healthy political culture mooted by my party president (Ong Ka Ting)."

UPDATES from malaysiakini:

Flanked by supporters, a calm Chua told the hastily-convened press conference, which began at 3pm and ended 40 minutes later, that he arrived at the decision because “the rakyat wants me to resign”.
“I hope my resignation, made on moral grounds, will serve to be a lesson to not just MCA members, but to all the Barisan Nasional component party members as well - that those who commit offences and possess certain weaknesses must be responsible for their actions,” he said.

He expressed disappointment that the public has adopted a holier-than-thou attitude on the issue and noted sarcastically that "maknanya semuanya golongan ulamak" (it must mean they are all very pious).

Chua further said he felt proud that he had made the confession and that he could stand tall because he was not being hypocritical.

“I thought that by my admission, the people would forgive my weaknesses, but I thought wrong. This shows that honesty does not always pay, (but) it is up to the public to judge me,” he said.

During the Cabinet meeting this morning, Merdeka Review says, several ministers have called for Soi Lek's resignation.

Soi Lek was quoted in Sin Chew as saying that his mistake was "checking into the same hotel and into the same room all the time". (“我犯的錯誤是，去同一間酒店及同一間房間，那些要去酒店開房的人，要好自為之。”)

EYING FOR THE POST. Strong contenders to the post of the Health Minister are vice-presidents Ong Tee Keat and Donald Lim Siang Chai, who are both not regarded as President's men, the Little Birds said, adding that Ong is the likely dark horse..

Fu Ah Kiow has been looked upon as a compromise, while observers are keen to see whether Ong Ka Ting will risk accusations of nepotism by appointing party secretary-general, and elder sibling, Ong Ka Chuan, to the post via a Senatorship.

Game for a round of World of Warcraft (WoW) with Team A and Team B in play?

The curse cannot be broken, but it can be used to jinx any persona non-grata to the top!

Comments

The enemy within is always more dangerous. Bon Voyage Dr Chua.

Posted by: kowlat | January 2, 2008 03:43 PM

NO! it can't be! soon labis and health minister will be taken by umno! It's consipiracy here!

Posted by: melurian | January 2, 2008 03:54 PM

lol at WoW reference.

The Horde consists of the Orcs, Tauren, Undead, Trolls and Blood Elves. Why, that sounds like an almost fitting term for BN.

Posted by: Fat Cat Lim | January 2, 2008 04:00 PM

CSL,

we hv forgiven you but dont expect too much from the rakyat. For goodness sake, you are the Health(y) Minister. You hv to go, period.

[ DELETED ]

Posted by: groo | January 2, 2008 04:28 PM

“I thought that by my admission of my involvement, the people would forgive me. But I thought wrong,” he said.

you're wrong, i have forgiven you liao since pm, dpm, your family has accepted your apologize. you are framed! like csl said, what he did is HIS OWN PRIVATE BUSINESS, as long as he deliver his performance as mentri kesihatan who the hell care for your "hobby"....

repeat after anwar, cari konspirator sampai lubang cacing..

maybe should start petition to pardon csl....

Posted by: melurian | January 2, 2008 04:43 PM

As the health minister, I think he did a very good job. Just too bad he had to go. Hope the next minister will continue to fight for the welfare of medical staff.

Posted by: 2nd class malaysian | January 2, 2008 05:18 PM

I didn't believe that the ground people do not forgive Dr Chua . Since when majority of the people demand Chua to resign ?

I strongly believe this is another clever set up by some political motive .

With resign of DR Chua , it will be a big loss to MCA and Chinese Community.

Either way, I hope Dr Chua will keep his promise in remain serving the people .
Such small scandal shouldn't be a hindal

Posted by: zenithtan | January 2, 2008 05:26 PM

I think he is in a rush to quit all post before Lim Kit Siang blog about it.

Posted by: Gurindam Jiwa | January 2, 2008 05:43 PM

since csl quitted mca, and also labis mp, will there be any local election then ?

JEFF OOI says: Section 1 Article 54 of the Federal Constitution states that a by-election is only required two years BEFORE the end of the prevailing term. The last by-election for this 2004-2009 term was done -- Ijok.

Posted by: melurian | January 2, 2008 07:43 PM

After CSL's "I am not going to quit' press conference, TV3 aired the opinions of Syed Hamid Albar talking about how in developed country, such scandalous ministers will resign own their own and an unknownn UMNO youth leader talking about how a leader should be clean and scandalfree.

I wonder whether such comments applies to everybody from every BN component parties?

Posted by: eantautjk | January 2, 2008 09:22 PM

Well calculated move.

Like Raja Petra said - UMNO can only be brought down from within. Leader can only be brought down from within.

This looks like a very BIG BIG BLACK HAND behind this. Culprit will never be found. Look at how The Star, an MCA publicize it. They definitely wants to nail him dead, no matter how much goodness they report he has done.

Such is BN. You vote any Tom, Dick or Harry there, also same thing.

All boils down to corruption. Greed. The conspirator is not eyeing for the Health Minister's monthly salary.

They're eyeing for power, and with it, position and calling the shots for contracts, licensing, commissions.

Posted by: aku anak malaysia | January 2, 2008 10:21 PM

Alas, a reasonably progressive minister (condom promotion) is ousted from an already moribund cabinet.

Posted by: oster | January 2, 2008 10:44 PM

I feel sorry for the wife and children.

When you have an obviously highly educated person saying his BIGGEST mistake was that he used the same hotel room.

I would have thought his penance would cause him to say that his biggest mistake was to commit the adulterous act in the first place.

Just goes to show how screwed up the MCA dickheads are. Of the two heads men are endowed with, they are using the wrong one to think with.

Holier than thou? Surely you jest. If we cannot hold our government reps to a high standard, then what's the bloody difference to them pilfering from coffers? Isn't that a moral issue as well?

Posted by: Yumcious | January 3, 2008 03:23 PM

I agree with Yumcious comments.

Besides, what is so bloody courages about Soi Lek admitting his quilt? With this face, head(s) and naked body plastered all over the DVD, it would be a matter of time before the public knows who the star in the show is. Also, his quiting is because he was forced I believe, since just less than 24 hours ago he made a statement not to quit. Why the sudden turn around? Worst he made it seem like he is so courages and 'holy' that he blames the raayat for not forgiving him. I have never known of any research companies in the world that can do a national citizens' poll in less than 24 hours and reporting it back to whoever initiated it. This is all bullsh*t. What does he think of us?...like 3 year olds that will swallow everything that is said?

Posted by: merdeka | January 4, 2008 09:45 AM

A song for the ex minister of health: http://youtube.com/watch?v=z5SyOVTriSo

Posted by: pinolobu | January 10, 2008 10:36 PM

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The curse... Soi Lek quits all

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