MCA internal crisis, Ong maintains silence

2009/11/05

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat seems to be maintaining a silent approach as the party's internal crisis drags on.

Endless questions on the party raised by journalists covering his visit to the Bangsar LRT Station in his capacity as the Transport Minister today received no response at all.

"Today, I only entertain questions on transportation. At this station, I don't see any MCA branch," he said when asked on Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai's intention to challenge the decision of the Registrar of Societies (ROS) on Tuesday that Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek was still the MCA deputy president.

Ong also refused to comment on a report in a Chinese daily on the move by five members of the MCA Disciplinary Committee, including its chairman Ng Cheng Kiat, who planned to resign as they were not happy with the top leadership in handling the developments in the party.

"If you (journalist) came for that, then I'm sorry. The thing is that they are rumours, hearsay...why allow all this to dominate our political scene? Sometimes, when proper statements are made, people are not happy. They don't respond. But there is a market for hearsay.

"It's better for me to do the work (that) the people are hoping for," he added.

Meanwhile in Putrajaya, Liow, who is MCA vice-president, said he was leaving it to his lawyer to determine the next course of action following his intention to challenge the decision of the ROS with regard to Chua's position as the MCA deputy president.

"I have already instructed my lawyer to study the matter. I leave it to my lawyer," he told reporters after launching the Health Ministry's Innovation Day, in Putrajaya.

According to the ROS, there was no vacancy for the post as the decision of the MCA extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on Oct 10 did not fulfill the two-third majority required to remove Dr Chua as the deputy president as provided for under Article 35 of the MCA Constitution.

Liow, who was appointed as deputy president by the MCA Central Committee on Oct 15 when the post was considered vacant, expressed his dissatisfaction and claimed that the ROS decision breached the MCA Constitution and threatened to take the matter to court.

On the statement by the MCA secretary-general, Datuk Wong Foon Meng that another EGM would not be convened as requested by 16 members of the Central Committee last week to pave the way for fresh party election, Liow said they had the right to call for another EGM.

"I think for the requisition, they have the right to call for the EGM. So, as the secretary-general and also as a party official, they have to respect the constitution of the party. Whatever right provided under the constitution they should respect that right," he said. - Bernama