Similar Vision, So Jui Meng Opts For PKR

PETALING JAYA, July 18 (Bernama) -- Former MCA vice-president Datuk Chua Jui Meng said he decided to join Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) because his vision for reform contained in the manifesto he wrote during the MCA presidential elections, was similar to that of PKR Advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Chua, who stepped down as Bakri MCA division chairman last Thursday, said when comparing his 2008 general election manifesto with Anwar's Malaysian agenda, he saw many areas of commonality and agreement between them.
"I see many areas of commonality...many areas where we can be in agreement and that was the thing that really persuaded me (to join PKR). PKR is the right channel for me to join," he said at a news conference after attending a PKR public forum, 'The Truth Behind the Scandals of Perak, Port Klang Free Zone and the Barisan Nasional Conspiracy' here Saturday.
Chua, who announced his intention to join PKR and resigned as member of MCA today, also said he was joining the party without any condition that Anwar should fulfill.
Asked exactly when he made his decision to join the party, he said:
"Recently. Before and after the MCA elections last year, I had issued a manifesto stating my idealism and vision. It seems the PKR manifesto is similar to my thinking in a number of issues. That is important.
"If we have an idea which contradicts each other, I will not bring it to PKR."
Chua, a former health minister, said he had never denied nor confirmed that he would be joining PKR, as many media had reported that he had denied that he might quit the party and join the opposition.
He would also submit his resignation letter to MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat later.
"He is my friend. He is a man who stands for idea and principle. I respect him for that and I think he respect me, as well. So our relatioship will continue as friends," he added.
In a related development, Anwar said PKR would give Chua a position in the party and the matter would be discussed in the next party supreme council meeting.
Asked who played a major role to rope in Chua to join PKR, Anwar said: "A number of friends...we met a number of times."
Meanwhile in KLUANG, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein described Chua's joining the Opposition as hardly affecting the struggles of Barisan Nasional (BN).
"BN's struggles do not revolve around individuals. The struggles are more important than an individual or a certain group.
"It (Chua quitting the MCA) is his right. For me, it's hardly surprising because he (Chua) did not have a place in MCA to express himself.
"I don't see it as strange as there has been a minister, previously, who left BN to join PKR," he told reporters after the Community Police programme in Felda Ulu Belitong here today.
Hishammuddin, who is also Sembrong member of parliament, said he left it to time to tell if Chua's action was right or otherwise.

tunku : where else does a loser goes.....pkr. i would respect jui meng decision if he hold important post in mca and quits to join pkr but this person lost twice in party's election.he is so frustrated and knows that he has no future in mca.that is why he joined pkr.it's all about himself.if he had won the president post,do you think he will quit mca and join pkr?