Wednesday, February 10, 2010, 04.36 AM
2009/11/29
MCA rank and file members can breathe a collective sigh of relief now that there is a solution to the party leadership impasse, writes ZUBAIDAH ABU BAKAR.
| (From left) MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat’s future is at stake after he gave in to demands to hold fresh party elections; while Deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek’s squabbles with the president are the source of the party crisis |
Yesterday, party members who attended a special briefing by vice-president Datuk Liow Tiong Lai's faction supported a move to hold party elections in 60 days.
The briefing was a replacement for the second extraordinary general meeting that was called off on Thursday after a "consensus" on fresh polls was reached between Liow and party deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.
The "declaration 1128" by the show of hands by about 1,000 members and delegates at Wisma MCA's Lee San Choon hall in Kuala Lumpur comes as Liow negotiates with the top two party leaders on the date for new polls.
Whether elections are to be held in January, March or October -- the three months proposed -- MCA can ill afford to have another round of horse-trading, jockeying and bad- mouthing in the run-up to the polls.
The party, already affected by the in-fighting and its image tattered and torn, could do with "healthy and free" contests for party positions.
Supporters of the three factions led by party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, his deputy Dr Chua and Liow, will know that unproductive and unhealthy tactics in the run-up to the polls can only backfire on the party if it wishes to remain relevant in mainstream politics at the next general election.
Any unwarranted comments or actions by any faction will only prolong the in-fighting and further damage the party.
Party polls must be seen to be fair and clean without any intimidation, buying or rigging of votes; it must be handled in a transparent and accountable manner.
This is the biggest test for MCA since its poor electoral performance in the last general election.
What happened during the run-up to the October 2008 party elections should be a lesson to the leaders. The party's leadership crisis dragged on for more than a year as a result of open squabbling between Ong and Dr Chua.
The party held an EGM on Oct 10 to resolve it but the outcome failed to satisfy all the feuding factions, leading to the calls for fresh polls.
If the rivalry between the two factions was not enough, Liow's faction made an entry after the EGM.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has taken pains to draw up a peace plan that is acceptable to all.
As Barisan Nasional chairman, he needed to intervene to break the power struggle that had paralysed the Chinese-based party.
Najib, of course, expects improvements by the time he gets back from abroad on Tuesday.
Chinese support is seen as paramount to the future well-being of BN and, naturally, every effort will be made by the leader of the coalition to see MCA rebound and recapture lost support from the community.
MCA leaders have also been warned by Najib's deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, that Umno might take on the role of "helping the Chinese community if MCA continues to be embroiled in crisis".
"So maybe there is no other recourse but for Umno to play that role and assist them for the time being," Muhyiddin had said.
How fresh elections can resolve the leadership crisis remains to be seen -- after all, the office-bearers have barely warmed their seats after winning just over a year ago.
Many party leaders favour fresh polls to be held soonest and this is what Ong is trying to work out.
There are views that Saturday's annual general assembly should be postponed to coincide with the proposed party elections if they are held early next year.
The argument is valid but the MCA constitution requires the party to hold its 2009 AGM by Dec 31. On this, there are those who say the party should seek an extension from the Registry of Societies.
Besides the pro-Liow faction, which prefers the polls to be held by the latest in January, there are those like central committee member Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai who, while agreeing elections must be held as soon as the paperwork and other preparations are completed, say the process could take about 11/2 months.
"MCA is now admitted into the intensive care unit and we need good 'doctors' who are the central delegates to 'cure' the party."
But former BN chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who during his tenure as prime minister and coalition chairman had witnessed the MCA in several crises, thinks fresh polls will only divide the party and make it weaker "because the people who lose will not be reconciled".
The former prime minister's fear is real, unless all the leaders and their supporters close ranks and work towards achieving the common goal of reviving the ailing party.
Reuniting the factions is a big challenge for Ong who returned on Friday after a successful mission to get Malaysia re-elected into the International Maritime Organisation's Category C council for the second term at the organisation's general assembly in London.
Amid many unsettled party issues back home, the transport minister had campaigned hard during his one-week stay there to secure Malaysia's position in the 20-member council.
Ong is aware that he may face a challenge in the fresh polls but is putting party interests above self-interest in agreeing to new elections when he has been at the party's helm for just more than a year.
If the cards are played right, fresh polls may turn out to be a winner for MCA with a stronger and a more dedicated team to serve the community.
zubaidah@nst.com.my
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