Time running out for MCA, says Liow

(Bernama) — The MCA is racing against time as its powerful Central Committee (CC) meets on Thursday to salvage the party’s bruised image following Saturday’s extraordinary general meeting (EGM) which “rejected” both party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and suspended deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

“Time is running out for the MCA. We have to strengthen the party again,” said Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, an MCA vice-president.

“The message is very clear. We must unite the party. The CC will discuss all the decisions of the EGM. It will make the best decision in the interests of the party and the Chinese community.

“The CC will elaborate, analyse and discuss the party direction. It is also important that the CC ensures unity of the whole party,” Liow, who is Health Minister, told reporters after opening the International Nursing Conference in Seri Kembangan, near here, today.

Delegates attending the EGM passed a vote of no-confidence in Ong and reinstated Chua, suspended for four years from this year for tarnishing the party’s image over a sex video scandal, as an ordinary member but not as the deputy president.

Liow said all decisions by the CC should be unanimous and that, at this juncture, the most critical focus would be to stabilise, unite and strengthen the party.

He said that despite the “upsetting” result (of the EGM), the party could not afford to have any split or camps.

Liow said the party was not in a deadlock as its constitution had in place mechanisms to resolve any situation, and urged the people not to speculate on the outcome of the CC meeting.

Asked about speculation that he was the most likely candidate to take over as party president should Ong resign and whether he was ready to take up the post, Liow said: “I, as the vice-president, have the responsibility to ensure that the party is united”.

Another vice-president Datuk Kong Cho Ha had told a local newspaper that he was ready to accept the responsibility as the party president if asked to.  In the aftermath of the EGM, calls for Ong to resign have grown louder.

Former vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn, who is now a central delegate, said fresh party elections were the best way to elect a new leadership. He asked Ong to accept the outcome of the EGM and pave the way for a smooth leadership transition.

Meanwhile, the Klang, Kuala Langat and Kapar MCA divisions in Selangor want Ong and the CC members to resign immediately to pave way for fresh elections.

“How can you lead a party with having just minority support of the central delegates? Fresh elections should be conducted in MCA to determine the new leadership,” Kuala Langat MCA chief Datuk Ei Kim Hock told reporters in Klang.

Also at the press conference were Klang MCA chief Datuk Teh Kim Poo and Kapar MCA chief Datuk Song Kee Chai.

Teh suggested that party vice-president Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, who had garnered the highest number of votes in the party elections last year, head MCA in the interim to ensure a smooth transition in the event of mass resignations.