Thursday November 5, 2009
MCA sec-gen: Second EGM not constitutional
By NG SI HOOI
KUALA LUMPUR: MCA secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng says he is not duty-bound to call for a second extraordinary general meeting (EGM) as requisitioned recently by the 16 central committee (CC) members.
Wong, in a statement, said the party’s Legal Bureau viewed the call as unconstitutional and unworkable.
The EGM would pave the way for fresh party elections.
Wong said the MCA general assembly could not force, or direct, for fresh election unless it came within the ambit of Articles 35, 41 and 167 of the party constitution.
> Article 35 provides that the general assembly may dismiss any party official if approved by at least two-thirds of the delegates who are present and voting at the general assembly.
> Article 41 states that if two-thirds or more of the elected central committee members shall at any time cease to be members of the central committee, the remaining members shall within three days elect one among themselves to convene at the shortest possible time an EGM to elect a new central committee.
> Article 167 provides that party elections will be held once every three years.
“Similarly, the general assembly cannot force or direct any central committee member to resign unless it comes within the ambit of Article 45.24 of the party constitution,” said Wong.
In general terms, Article 45.24 states that the central committee is allowed to take disciplinary action against a party official, member and staff provided the said person is elected; but the central committee may not suspend or expel the person without the support of two-thirds of the members of the central committee present at the meeting.
Wong had called the three coordinators of the group of 16 for a meeting at Wisma MCA yesterday.
The three were Wong Nai Chee, Datuk Wee Jeck Seng and Datuk Liew Yuen Keong.
Also present was newly appointed Legal Bureau chief Lim Hong Sang.
Nai Chee said he would discuss the next course of action with the others who signed the requisition.
“We will analyse and do what is in the best interest of the party.
“We must take into account the considerations of the Chinese community and views of the party members,” said Nai Chee to reporters after attending the meeting.
He added that the group disagreed with the opinion that their call for the second EGM was unconstitutional.
“We have studied the party constitution before drafting the motion.
“We thought it is absolutely within the constitution.”
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