Tuesday September 22, 2009

MCA central committee has final word on Chua suspension

KUALA LUMPUR: The MCA central committee (CC) has flexed its muscles to overturn the sacking decision of Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and instead, suspend him for four years.

The CC did this just when the party was all set to hold its extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on Oct 10 to vote on five resolutions proposed by Dr Chua’s camp.

This begs the question whether the power of the CC was underestimated in the fractious past weeks where a fair share of barbs were traded between rival supporters of party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and Dr Chua.

“They overlooked the CC as an independent body and pre-empted us by going straight for an EGM, which should only be called as a last resort,” said CC member Datuk Ti Lian Ker of Pahang.

Disgruntled members should not have jumped the gun and should have waited first to see how the CC would act before pushing for the EGM, he added.

Under Article 128 of the party constitution, the CC has the final say on disciplinary matters and that cannot be challenged, even in a court of law.

Currently, there are 43 CC members with 25 elected, seven appointed by the president while the rest are party office-bearers.

Ti refuted that the CC’s move was tantamount to a lack of confidence in the presidential council, as the CC had overturned other disciplinary decisions as well.

Party sources said Dr Chua’s issue was brought up by Senator Datuk Wong Siong Hwee from Kelantan; and all were given the opportunity to express their views, including the most senior CC member, Datuk Wong Mook Leong.

In the CC, the sources said Wong retold his experience when he was sacked during the party crisis in the 1980s, adding that a suspension would have a similar effect as an expulsion.

Party veteran Datuk Yap Pian Hon maintained that the CC had the mandate because all decisions, including disciplinary matters, must go through both the presidential council and CC, the two decision-making bodies in the party.

“If we stop at the presidential council level, it can be argued later that the decision is invalid because the due process was not complete,” he said.

A political observer, who declined to be named, viewed the CC’s decision as a “smart tactical move” by Ong’s side to neutralise the sympathy towards Dr Chua during the EGM.

“To take some wind away from the sail, so to speak,” said the observer.

The suspension may cause part of the 2,377 delegates to reconsider their views and swing away from Dr Chua as he could still become a party member again after four years. — Bernama