Irresponsible Press!

The Star Thursday March 19, 2009

MCA leaders criticise magazine for not seeking their views

By LOONG MENG YEE

KUALA LUMPUR: Several MCA leaders are all riled up at being implicated by a Chinese weekly magazine over an alleged move to call for a party extraordinary general meeting (EGM) against the party leadership.

They denied being involved in such a move and criticised the magazine, Hao Wai Special Weekly, for not even bothering to seek their views.

Kuala Langat division chief Datuk Ei Kim Hock, who was named, said he had been asking the leadership to put aside their differences and unite to tackle the impact of the financial crisis.

“What EGM? What the community wants to see is MCA actively addressing the effects of the slowdown,” said the former Selangor MCA secretary and former Teluk Datuk state assemblyman.

He was commenting on a March 9 article in the magazine naming him among a group of 20 leaders – including a minister, central committee members and division leaders – who are allegedly trying to organise an EGM with the intention of passing a no-confidence motion against party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.

Ei said he was party to initiating a press conference recently with a few other MCA leaders but the intention was to publicly urge Ong and his deputy Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek put aside their differences and start moving as a united team.

Central committee member Datuk Ti Lian Ker, also named in the report, said he was not aware of any plan to convene an EGM.

“The speculation is the work of unethical tabloid reporting. The magazine put my photo and name, but did not even bother to get my comments,” he said.

He added that if the party was united, there would not be any chance for such irresponsible reporting to cause damage.

Kuala Kangsar Youth MCA division chief Datuk Ling Hee Leong, asked about his name being in the list of those planning for the EGM, said: “For an EGM to be convened, it must fulfil the criteria of having logical reasons and enjoying the support of one-third of the delegates.”

Asked if he was party to the intention to hold an EGM, or whether he was wooed to participate in one, Ling said: “We are all logical people. If the logic is strong enough, I will support it.”

Meanwhile, former Selangor MCA chairman Datuk Ch’ng Toh Eng, who was not among those named in the article, said unsubstantiated reports were mischievous and urged party members to not fall prey to ill intentions against the party.

“The major parties in Barisan Nasional are perceived to be involved in in-fighting. This is the perception opportunists want to create so they have a chance to weaken the parties and maybe take over,” said Ch’ng, a former state executive council member.