The Star | PETALING JAYA, 03-Oct-2008 : Datuk Ong Tee Keat is the favourite among Malaysian Chinese to become MCA president, according to a survey by the independent Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research.
Also, 40% of the respondents think he is qualified to lead the MCA, compared with 6% for the other contender, Datuk Chua Jui Meng. Wanita chief Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen is the second most popular among the respondents, with 12% believing she is fit to lead the party.
To another question, 76% of Chinese respondents said they had a positive impression of Ong, the MCA vice-president, and similarly of Dr Ng, who garnered 67%.
Among the respondents, 57% had a positive impression of Jui Meng, 56% of incumbent vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn and 46% of Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, who is vying for the deputy presidency.
The poll, conducted by the centre between Sept 11 and 22, interviewed 1,002 registered voters on their perceptions of current issues, the economy and the country’s leadership.
In a question to all respondents, two-thirds said that a politician tainted by a sex scandal should not hold a senior post in a political party or the Government.
A total of 64% agreed that an apology from such a politician was not enough for him or her to be accepted as a leader again.
The two questions obviously refer to Soi Lek, who resigned early this year after admitting being the man in a sex DVD.
However, Chinese respondents (48%) were more open to an apology from such a politician compared with Malays (24%) and Indians (12%).
The survey also showed that one-third of the Chinese respondents wanted Barisan Nasional component parties to be more outspoken within the coalition.
In a surprising revelation, the survey found that more Malaysian Indians (70%) were aware of the Oct 18 party election than the Chinese (55%). – The Star