MCA leaders given two weeks to resign

(Bernama) – The MCA special committee which met tonight has set a two week deadline for the central committee members to resign to trigger fresh polls for the troubled party.

But Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek, who leads the special committee formed to sort out technical matters on holding fresh party elections, admitted that it cannot force party leaders to resign.

“We will use political wisdom,” said Dr Chua when asked on the committee’s action if it fails to get the party leaders to resign.

“We cannot wait until next year to have election,” he told reporters after the special committee meeting.

He also said the party is “very near” to having fresh polls.

Dr Chua also clarified 21 or two-thirds of elected central committee members must resign to make fresh polls necessary as there are 31 elected members.

“We are confident that the MCA central committee members are leaders who love the party and they know what to do for the sake of MCA and Barisan Nasional,” said Dr Chua.

He added that leaders who win the fresh polls will only serve until 2011 and not a full three year term.

He said standard resignation forms have been sent to all central committee members two days ago but none of them have returned the letter.

Previously Dr Chua had said 13 central committee members had expressed their willingness to resign.

He also said the party central committee will decide if fresh elections are necessary for the Youth and Wanita wings.