'Sometimes dodging is good': Chua revisits famous jab at Wee

'Sometimes dodging is good': Chua revisits famous jab at Wee

Lee Way Loon
Published: Aug 2, 2025 3:03 PM
Updated: 5:20 PM



Summary

• Former MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek offers an improved assessment of current party chief Wee Ka Siong, saying sometimes it’s good to “dodge”, flipping an old criticism against the latter.

• Chua says MCA has been improving but can learn a few “tricks” from its archnemesis, DAP, on political messaging and communication.

• He adds that he doesn’t expect MCA to make much inroads in the next general election despite the party’s improvement.

Seven years ago, Former MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek had publicly accused the then deputy president Wee Ka Siong of artfully dodging major issues. But now, he has offered a surprisingly positive assessment of the current party boss.

Chua now said that “siam”, the Hokkien word for “dodge”, can be a good thing in certain scenarios.

The 78-year-old former health minister was asked about his oft-cited Hokkien line about his successors, Liow Tiong Lai and Wee, in a Chinese-language podcast interview with Malaysiakini, where he discussed MCA’s future direction.

The podcast was released yesterday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

“I think he’s doing better recently, He’s more active,” said Chua, when asked to evaluate Wee’s performance now that the latter is midway through his second term as MCA president.

MCA president Wee Ka Siong


Reminded of his 2018 remark that Wee was “dodging” tough issues, Chua replied, “I wouldn’t say he’s not dodging anymore - but sometimes, dodging is good.”

“What I mean is, apart from him, there are other grassroots leaders - from MCA Youth, the publicity bureau, and the women’s wing - and I think they’ve been doing quite well.”

In September 2018, Chua had publicly urged then-president Liow and deputy Wee to clarify whether MCA should remain in BN, instead of “dodging” major issues.

A month later, when Wee first contested the party presidency, Chua openly voiced his opposition.

Seven years on, Chua revealed that he occasionally keeps in touch with Wee and even offers advice - including urging him to hold more press conferences to boost the party’s media visibility.

He noted that under Wee’s leadership, MCA’s political messaging has improved, though he believes there’s still room for growth - especially in the party’s publicity and communications work.

“It’s not enough. You can’t just rely on the president. Others must play their part too. MCA has a publicity bureau - they should learn a thing or two from DAP, including sometimes ‘che da pao (blowing things out of proportion)’.”


‘Let’s learn a few tricks from DAP’

Speaking in a half-joking, half-serious tone, Chua remarked that DAP is the best among the country’s political parties when it comes to political messaging, and MCA should pick up a few tricks from them.

“Their messaging, misinformation, momentum-building, sowing discord, and they’re very aggressive with press statements.

“Sometimes they’ll even ‘che da pao’, like saying, ‘If we were in government and doing well, Singaporeans would come to Malaysia to work as foreign workers’,” he said, referring to the infamous remark made by DAP leader Nga Kor Ming.

“We don’t need to overdo it, but we should learn a few of their tricks. Our publicity efforts aren’t enough. Our message delivery is not good,” said Chua, who led MCA from March 2010 to December 2013.

As for MCA’s future leadership beyond Wee, Chua doesn’t see that as the party’s most pressing concern at the moment.

Instead, he believes the next general election will be far more crucial.

Still, Chua was candid in admitting that the party is unlikely to see any major breakthroughs in the coming polls.

“We have only two MPs - what kind of breakthrough can you expect? Maybe we can win a few more seats because many people are unhappy with the government,” he said.