MCA central committee rejects Nov 28 EGM: Ong

2009/11/18

KUALA LUMPUR: A meeting of MCA central committee (CC)members today rejected an emergency general meeting (EGM) slated for Nov 28 as it was against the party's constitution, said party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.
Besides that, Ong said the notice issued by the group of 16 CC members who wanted to have the EGM supported by vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai was also questionable.

"In the CC meeting today, 23 members rejected the resolution and were against having the EGM as it was against the party constitution, while 10 members supported and two abstained," Ong said at a news conference after the three-hour CC meeting here today.

This means the EGM need not be held, said Ong, and added that the official letters and the party's logo had been misused in sending out notices to central delegates.

Ong announced the appointment of nine persons from among 10 CC members to the Presidential Council. They are Datuk Lee Chee Leong, Senator Heng Seai Kie, Tan Cheng Liang, Datuk Ti Lian Ker, Datuk Loke Yuen Yow, Datuk Seri Tan Chai Ho, Gan Peng Sieu, Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon and Wong Hock Aun.

MCA treasurer Tan Sri Tee Hock Seng will head a special committee to fine-tune the mechanism and method of distributing party funds to divisions at the grassroots level.

Besides that, Ong said also discussed was the proposal to have direct election.

"The Umno model was discussed, there are several choices to be looked into by a special committee headed by Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and a secretariat made up of the secretary-general and the party's legal bureau," said Ong.

He also announced a community effort known as 1Malaysia Community Care Mobile Service headed by Tan Cheng Liang and vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen as advisor.

"It is a mobile service focused on our care for the community, it will involve services like legal and health services and daily services involving government agencies and will go all over the country," he said.

At a separate news conference, Liow said the party's internal crisis was very critical and the EGM would definitely be held.

"We want to tell delegates from throughout the country that this is the time to protect the party's democracy, so I urge the delegates to attend the second EGM for democracy to be entrenched again in the party," stressed Liow.

Also at the news conference was Wanita MCA chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong and several CC members including Lee Wei Kiat, Dr Hou Kok Chung and Datuk Wee Jeck Seng.

Liow called the sacking of Wee and Chew from the presidential council as a ''chopping off'' operation done by Ong since the Nov 3 CC meeting.

"Today's MCA CC meeting made our heart bleed, we are very sad. The MCA is a family at war now, MCA is engaging in the politics of slash and burn, the president disowned the Youth and also the Wanita in the presidential council, this is a serious matter."

"This can be seen as the last straw, the president elected his own people and eliminated those who disagreed with him so he can have absolute power in the presidential council," he said.

Liow said the MCA must return to the politics of values and uphold the fundamental democratic principles and be the catalyst of change and hope for the people. - Bernama

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