Thuggish trouble

By Eileen Ng, NST

The MCA annual general meeting was postponed because of threats by thugs, claimed several party insiders and leaders.

It is learnt that the AGM, which was to have been held for two days from Friday, was postponed indefinitely as the leadership was worried that certain quarters had planned to create chaos and fan the emotions of members.

They feared a scenario reminiscent of the MCA Youth fracas eight years ago. In the 2001 incident, when president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat was the Youth chief, chairs and stink bombs were thrown during the wing’s AGM. The proceedings were also disrupted by a bomb hoax.

As such, insiders said the AGM was called off to spare the MCA embarrassment, especially since Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had been scheduled to open the meeting.

Another reason for the postponement includes adhering to a cooling-off period while a committee on fresh polls studies the feasibility of holding elections to resolve the party crisis.Claims that the AGM was called off because of threats, had been circulating via email and posted on some blogs. Party insiders said they heard that booing and jeering would begin as soon as Ong stepped into Wisma MCA’s San Choon Hall.

“The rabble-rousers would heckle Ong the moment he delivers his presidential address in a move to embarrass him in front of the prime minister.

“And after the PM leaves, the chair-throwing would begin and a pepper-spray war would commence, ruining whatever little is left of MCA’s tattered reputation” they said.

Sources said the central committee meeting last Wednesday discussed the possibility of such disruptions taking place and decided to postpone the AGM.

“The CC was concerned that mud-slinging and free-for-all could take place at the AGM. They do not want the party’s reputation to be damaged by the actions of a few people.

“At the end of the day, we do not want the AGMto be a platform for people to air their grievances against certain leaders,” said a CC member.

Central committee member Datuk Chong Itt Chew said the postponement of the AGM was to avoid the possibility of delegates taking sides and condemning certain leaders.

“We are worried that if one person runs down a certain leader, another might do the same.

 

“We do not want the party to be embarrassed in the event delegates went for each other’s throats at the AGM.

“So, to ensure MCA remains relatively stable and in the interest of unity, the CC feels there is a need for a cooling-off period and the AGM was postponed.”