Published: Thursday October 15, 2009 MYT 12:10:00 PM
Updated: Thursday October 15, 2009 MYT 6:07:43 PM

MCA to hold EGM to decide on fresh polls, Liow elected deputy president (Updated)

By FOONG PEK YEE, LEE YUK PENG, NG SI HOOI, RACHAEL KAM and YUEN MEI KENG

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat has directed the party’s secretary-general to call for an extraordinary general meeting under Article 30.1 of the MCA constitution to decide whether the party should hold fresh elections for the central committee.

“The EGM/ AGM will allow delegates to end the impasse over whether the Central Committee (CC) should seek a fresh mandate,” he said in a statement posted on his blog after the CC meeting at Wisma MCA here on Thursday.

The meeting, which saw the CC electing Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai as deputy president, was held to resolve questions arising from last Saturday’s EGM which saw delegates rejecting Ong as president by a mere 14 votes, while also rejecting sacked deputy Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

The EGM however voted to overturn Dr Chua’s suspension as a member.

Ong had earlier said that he would resign if he did not have the clear support of delegates, but according to the party constitution, a two-thirds majority of the general assembly is needed to oust the president.

“Over the years, my political career has been guided by my conscience and the peoples’ aspirations. People who know me well know that I uphold my principles in my political practice,” Ong said in his blog.

“It has never been my practice to renege on my words, including what I had pledged earlier with regard to the outcome of the EGM.

“Nonetheless, the disciplinary action was a collective decision of the Presidential Council and Central Committee. Hence, the onus and responsibility is not on me alone, but collectively.

“That being the case, I had proposed to have fresh polls to seek a fresh mandate from the party, especially since the outcome of the EGM was inconclusive and indicate that the grassroots were divided.

“The best way out of this situation was to seek the re-affirmation of the MCA leadership.

“However any hopes for fresh poll was dashed because certain quarters are worried that I would renege on my words and decide to stay as the party president. This is absolutely baseless,” he said.

Earlier Thursday, MCA grassroots supporters from Johor, Malacca and Kedah started arriving as early as 11am in anticipation of the CC meeting, chanting in Mandarin and holding banners asking Ong to stay on as president.

They included non-MCA members -- Parent-Teacher Association members from SJK (C) Ampang (II), Wencom Career Consultancy and the Johor Money Changers Association.

Cindy Leong, wanita MCA chief for Pandan MCA, said she received lots of calls and SMSes from non-governmental organisations transcending race, urging Ong to stay on.

Ngwe Hee Sem, Malacca youth chief who came with a bus-load of supporters from the Alor Gajah division, said, “The Chinese community needs Ong. It would be a loss to the community to see hom go.”

Also present was Chua Kheng Hwa, Bemban assemblyman from Malacca.

Kubang Pasu MCA members came in two buses, while the Ledang MCA members who came in one bus-load included Tangkak state assemblyman Goh Tee Tee.

In Penang, several divisions -- Bagan, Nibong Tebal, Bukit Mertajam, Tanjung and Ayer Itam -- came with in buses.

Among them were several central delegates -- Ong Tiong Keat (Nibong Tebal), Lim Hai Song (Bagan), Ooi Chok Gem (Bagan) and David Chua (Bagan), who were also present for last Saturday’s EGM.

Those from nearby divisions like Rawang, Ampang and Pandan here came by car.

There were also at least seven to eight buses from various places in Johor, including Segamat and Johor Baru.

Ho Man Moi, 62, an MCA member from Pandan, said Ong should not go because of one person.

“We need people with integrity like him in the MCA. He did nothing wrong. Why should he resign ?” said Ho.

Yeo Kwee Kwang, honorary chairman of the Johor Money Changers Association, said so far, he saw Ong as the only MCA president brave enough to combat corruption.

Richard Tan, a deputy head of the PTA in SJK (C) Ampang II, said Ong was to be given the credit for the setting up of the school two years ago.

Wee Hui Bieh, managing director of Wencom Career Consultancy, said Ong helped students from school go for vocational school programmes, saying that they should not be left out.

Wee also said Ong had lamented that Chinese students were losing their competitive edge these days.

“I would like to thank my supporters from all races and all walks of life who have shown deep concern and showered me kind words and encouragement following the EGM last Saturday,” Ong said.

“I still have a long list of unfinished business involving the party and public interests, like the direct election of the MCA presidency and the Port Klang Free Zone issue. It is my wish to see such issues be addressed without any abrupt disruption.

“Last but not least, I need to tender my apologies to the people if they felt that I have not lived up to their expectations. I want to assure them that so long as I continue as a Member of Parliament and remain a discerning Malaysian, I will continue to pursue the PKFZ case in whatever capacity available to me.

“To my aspiring MCA colleagues, I must apologise if I stand in the way of your political ascendency. That has never been my intention,” he said.

“To the genuine Party members and workers, please do continue with your endeavour to help strengthen the party but do refrain from playing into the hands of manipulators and opportunists,” he said.

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