No MCA polls in sight as quit deadline lapses

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/2mc-2/Article/index_html

2009/12/27

B. Suresh Ram and Shuhada Elis

KUALA LUMPUR: The Dec 25 deadline for MCA central committee members to tender their resignations has come and gone. And from the looks of it, fresh elections are unlikely. Although secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng has remained tight-lipped, it is understood that there have been fewer than 21 resignations.

Fresh elections would have to be called if there were 21 or more resignations.

It is also unclear whether party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, who are both supportive of fresh elections, have tendered their resignations.

The next course of action will be decided by the Special Committee on Party Re-elections, which is chaired by Dr Chua. But it appears that the status quo is likely to stay.

"If there is no solution, then CC members have to serve their terms till 2011," said a party source.

The source revealed that many of the CC members did not want to quit after holding their posts for just over a year.

"They fought hard to win. And they do not see why they should betray the delegates who voted them in. Besides, quitting gives the impression that they were listening to outsiders," said the source.

Wong said the special committee would convene a meeting as soon as possible to come up with a solution to the imbroglio.

Wong declined to reveal the names of CC members who had tendered their resignations, saying "he did not want to cause confusion".

Former MCA secretary-general Tan Sri Ting Chew Peh said many had expected that the majority of CC members would not resign as they were elected for a three-year term last year.

"CC members should work together for the next 11/2 years until the next party elections."

The former housing and local government minister said there was no point pushing for fresh elections just to get rid of "one or two persons" in the party.

"Fresh elections may sound nice but the factions should not use this for personal interest.

"If they still go on (about the elections), they will be rejected by the people."

He described the en bloc resignations of the faction led by vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai as wayang kulit (shadow play).

CC member Datuk Ti Lian Ker said the party should not let a minority or internal factionalism continue to dictate it.

"The people are tired, and fed up with the bickering in MCA, perpetuated by a minority whose sole purpose is to climb up the political ladder," said the Kuantan division chief.

He said the faction must know how to put aside their differences and work as a team, just like Ong and Chua.

Political analysts, however, said the status quo would not be in the best interest of the party.

Universiti Sains Malaysia's Assoc Prof Dr P. Sivamurugan said if the situation in MCA remained as it is, the party might not be in a position to serve the people as Ong, Dr Chua and Liow could not work on the same platform.

"Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak should urge all factions to end the crisis."

Sivamurugan said it was best for Ong, Dr Chua and Liow to resign and allow fresh elections as it was the only way to solve the crisis.

"If the status quo remains, in six months there will be another crisis and it will be too late for BN to save MCA."

Universiti Kebangsaan Malay-sia's Prof Datuk Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin said fresh party polls was the only solution for the conflict-ridden leadership of MCA.

"MCA is approaching what can be called 'a failed party' situation."