The revelation by the MCA vice president Datuk Chua Jui Meng that the three trustees of the MCA investment arm Huaren Holdings Sdn. Bhd were asked to sign proxy forms to assign to MCA central committee member Datuk Dr. Chua Soi Lek the powers to act for them in approving the deal for the MCA takeover of Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press is most unbelievable.
The three Huaren trustees asked to sign proxy forms to sign away their trustee rights and responsibilities were MCA deputy president Datuk Lim Ah Lek, MCA secretary-general Datuk Dr. Ting Chew Peh and Chua.
Chua yesterday showed reporters copies of an unsigned proxy form which carried his name and that of Ah Lek and Chew Peh, but Chua did not sign the proxy form.
Two things emerge from Chua’s revelation:
Firstly, that Ling, who is also a Huaren trustee, was dictating to the other three Huaren trustees that they should blindly follow his wishes with regard to the MCA takeover of Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press by demanding that the other three trustees sign proxy forms to Soi Lek to decide for them.
Secondly, the RM230 million acquisition of Nanyang Press Holdings Bhd. by Huaren Holdings is unlawful and illegal, as the Board of Huaren trustees have not met to give its approval.
The Huaren trustees meeting tomorrow should put an end to the MCA takeover of Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press by voting against the deal which would be a triple castrophe - firstly, to the legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese community and Chinese education; secondly, to press freedom, human rights and democracy in Malaysia; and thirdly, to the livelihood of some 2,000 workers who would be directly or indirectly affected when these two Chinese newspapers suffer the fate of Tung Bao and have to close down as a result of the boycott of the Chinese community.
(13/6/2001)