Rumblings against push for CC members to resign

2009/11/29

KUALA LUMPUR: What will happen if the majority of the elected members of MCA's powerful decision-making body, the central committee (CC), refuse to resign to allow for fresh polls? Under the party constitution, fresh polls can only be held if two-thirds, or 20, of the 30 elected CC members resign. The elections must then be held within 60 days of their resignation.

Party elections will also be due when the CC members' term is up, which means at the next party elections in 2011, as the party held its elections on Oct 18 last year.

MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and the 13 CC members supporting him have vowed to quit their posts in order to force fresh polls.

However, Liow's faction has the uphill task of convincing seven more CC members to do the same to force the polls.

Remember, the majority are aligned to party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

Making things more difficult is talk that some CC members have indicated they are not willing to resign and prefer to complete their term.



"Why is it that when Ong, Dr Chua and Liow are fighting, we are the ones who have to make way for the party polls? Why don't Ong, Dr Chua and Liow do that?" asked an elected CC member who did not wish to be identified.

The CC member says they had to fight hard to be elected to their positions at last year's party elections but, now, barely a year later, they face the prospect of having to vacate their seats to face fresh polls.

"You think it would be easy for us to resign? How about those with posts of minister and deputy minister? They have got everything to lose if they do that."



Some party insiders say it will need more than just the signing of resignation letters as consensus has to be assured; everyone must submit their letters together.

"Otherwise, the party might just accept your resignation because you have submitted your letter while the others who did not submit their letters will continue in their positions. They can play you out in such a way," the insiders said.

Some political observers note that though the three factions are said to have reached a consensus to have fresh polls, they still argue about when they should be held.

Liow's group, however, claims consensus has been reached with the factions led by Ong and Dr Chua -- that new party leadership elections are necessary. It even insists that a date for the fresh polls has been set and is part of the group's "roadmap", details of which have not been revealed. Liow's group claims it is "privileged information".

Whatever it is, Liow's group have to face an immediate obstacle: how to face the scheduled annual general meeting on Saturday, which they had earlier hoped will be put off so that the fresh polls can be held in conjunction with the AGM at a later date.

Yesterday, party information chief Senator Heng Seai Kie clarified that the AGM on Saturday and Sunday would not be postponed and those claiming otherwise were attempting to cause confusion.

Therefore, it will be interesting to see if Liow's group will attend the AGM. It will be interesting, also, to see if the Youth and Wanita AGMs will be held since the leaders of both the wings are in Liow's camp.

Political analysts note that Liow's group is pushing for immediate polls as it wants to ride on the wave of purported discontent against Ong while Ong, on the other hand, wants the polls to be held in the second half of next year to give him more time to win over the 2,400 delegates. -- Bernama