Tee Keat clings on, Liow is No 2 and MCA heads for implosion
Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai was appointed deputy president of MCA today after a heated central committee meeting that saw him at loggerheads with party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat who says he will now call for another EGM.
Ong also refused to resign as party president today despite losing a confidence vote last week.
The party president will now use his powers to call for another EGM to decide if the party should have fresh elections.
Ong, Liow and other central committee members emerged from their meeting today without speaking to the press.
In a posting on his blog put up immediately after the meeting, Ong said he had directed MCA secretary-general Wong Foon Meng to call for an EGM under Article 30.1 of the MCA constitution to decide whether to hold fresh polls.
“The EGM/AGM will allow delegates to end the impasse over whether the central committee should seek a fresh mandate.
“I still have a long list of unfinished business involving party and public interests, like the direct election of the MCA presidency and the Port Klang Free Zone issue. It is my wish to see such issues addressed without any abrupt disruptions.”
He added that any hopes today, for fresh polls was dashed “because certain quarters are worried that I would renege on my words and decide to stay as the party president.”
“This is absolutely baseless.”
Despite being appointed the party No 2 today, a sombre-looking Liow also refused to talk to reporters.
The Malaysian Insider understands that the meeting was heated, with Liow and Ong at the centre of arguments.
As expected, Ong’s refusal to resign has split the party further.
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