MCA polls unlikely

Central committee members reluctant to quit to pave way for fresh mandate

KUALA LUMPUR: Fresh polls may not take place in MCA as many central committee
members are reluctant to quit.

Despite a pledge by deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, vice-president
Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and 12 other CC members to step down to resolve the leadership crisis, none had submitted their letters of resignation.

Secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng told the New Sunday Times he had yet to receive any resignation letter from the 31 elected CC members. Seven more CC members are needed to make up the 21 members — two-thirds of the CC who must resign to pave the way for fresh elections.

“They have until Dec 25 to submit their letters,” Wong said.

On Friday, Dr Chua had said CC members had two weeks to decide whether they wanted to let go of their posts. Liow said he and 12 CC members had received the standard resignation letter and needed time to go through the document.

“I have always emphasised the need for the party to resolve the crisis once and

for all,” he said at a press conference after launching a bio-herbs economic
forum yesterday. Liow said it was important that CC members do what was right to stop the crisis from worsening and urged them to voluntarily resign.

He said many of the elected CC members felt fresh polls were necessary.
“I am confident they will make their decision fast and do not need to be persuaded by others to do what is right.”

But it is said that the remaining 17 CC members are cool towards Liow’s call.
Datuk Chong Itt Chew said he would not sign the letter until the CC briefed members and endorsed the decisions made by the committee on fresh elections. No date has been fixed for the next CC meeting.

“I want to know how many will sign the letter. As far as I know, none have done so despite talk by some leaders.”

Another CC member, Datuk Ti Lian Ker, said he had yet to sign the letter because it was not resolved whether fresh elections would include the Youth and Wanita wings.

“We might set a bad precedent if we allow a minority to get their way and disrupt the party,” he said.

Datuk Tan Chai Ho said he needed time to to think about it as he only received the letter on Friday night.

“It is not easy to get people to resign,” he said.

Universiti Sains Malaysia analyst Dr Sivamurugan Pandian aid if fresh elections did not take place and the status quo remained, it would not guarantee peace in the party.

“If some leaders are unhappy with the developments in the party a few months later, what is going to stop them from creating another crisis?

“I believe fresh polls is the best way to resolve matters once and for all.”

Political analyst Khoo Kay Peng said if all the factions were serious about going for fresh elections, they should have set a date a long time ago. Khoo believed the leaders were dragging their feet to buy time to consolidate their support. He said for now, Liow’s faction was the minority in the
CC after Ong and Dr Chua had teamed up.

“Liow definitely has difficulty in persuading the other CC members to quit. It appears he is running out of options and the only thing for him to do is to wait for the next party elections in 2011.”

Party insiders said there were whispers that some CC members were unwilling to
quit and preferred to complete their term. A CC member, who did not want to be identified, said they had to fight hard to be elected at last year’s party elections but, now, barely a year later, they were facing the prospect of having to vacate their seats to face fresh elections.

“You think it would be easy for us to resign? How about those who are ministers and deputy ministers? They have everything to lose if they do that.”

The MCA leadership crisis was caused by the watershed Oct 10 extraordinary general meeting when party president, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, narrowly lost a vote of no confidence while his former nemesis, Dr Chua, failed to be reinstated as the party’s number two.