Tuesday November 24, 2009

Ong not averse to fresh polls in March, says Ti

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/11/24/nation/5171449&sec=nation

PETALING JAYA: MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat is not averse to having fresh polls for the party in March, if the new electoral system involving the divisional delegates is ready, said central committee member Datuk Ti Lian Ker.

He said Ong had never objected to having fresh election as long as it was in line with the party constitution.

“In the interest of the party, we should be able to discuss and settle our problems internally,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Ti, who is also MCA NGO liason bureau chief, said Ong had mooted the idea for a fresh election during the Oct 15 CC meeting but this was opposed vehemently by vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and some CC members.

Ti added that the Greater Unity Plan (GUP) was therefore proposed and accepted by deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and his supporters.

The GUP was to unite the party towards a fresh election when tempers were cooled and the delegates are clear about the issues facing the party.

“As per the announcement of Dr Chua, we were planning to have a direct election in about six months’ time.”

Ti said however the GUP was not accepted by Liow and his supporters.

In his blog www.tilianker.blogspot.com, Ti also questioned the need for the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister to intervene in the MCA crisis when Ong was gaining support from two-thirds of the central committee.

“How can MCA be worse off when the leadership is getting stronger and the two-thirds support is an absolute support in democratic terms?

“All this was achieved in accordance with democracy and the party constitution without outside interference,” he said yesterday.

He said the GUP was on course and the exclusion of the Youth and Wanita chiefs was a lesson for them to behave.

He also questioned why the Prime Minister had not taken Liow and his supporters to task for not being team players.

“Why should the party constitution and interest be sacrificed or sidelined to appease an aggressive minority?”

Ti said the party could not afford to have infighting in the presidential council, the party’s administrative body, every week.

He added that the door to the council would be opened to both the Youth and Wanita leaders if they had supported the GUP.

Ong not averse to fresh polls in March, says Ti

Tuesday November 24, 2009
Ong not averse to fresh polls in March, says Ti

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/11/24/nation/5171449&sec=nation

PETALING JAYA: MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat is not averse to having fresh polls for the party in March, if the new electoral system involving the divisional delegates is ready, said central committee member Datuk Ti Lian Ker.

He said Ong had never objected to having fresh election as long as it was in line with the party constitution.

“In the interest of the party, we should be able to discuss and settle our problems internally,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Ti, who is also MCA NGO liason bureau chief, said Ong had mooted the idea for a fresh election during the Oct 15 CC meeting but this was opposed vehemently by vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and some CC members.

Ti added that the Greater Unity Plan (GUP) was therefore proposed and accepted by deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and his supporters.

The GUP was to unite the party towards a fresh election when tempers were cooled and the delegates are clear about the issues facing the party.

“As per the announcement of Dr Chua, we were planning to have a direct election in about six months’ time.”

Ti said however the GUP was not accepted by Liow and his supporters.

In his blog www.tilianker.blogspot.com, Ti also questioned the need for the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister to intervene in the MCA crisis when Ong was gaining support from two-thirds of the central committee.

“How can MCA be worse off when the leadership is getting stronger and the two-thirds support is an absolute support in democratic terms?

“All this was achieved in accordance with democracy and the party constitution without outside interference,” he said yesterday.

He said the GUP was on course and the exclusion of the Youth and Wanita chiefs was a lesson for them to behave.

He also questioned why the Prime Minister had not taken Liow and his supporters to task for not being team players.

“Why should the party constitution and interest be sacrificed or sidelined to appease an aggressive minority?”

Ti said the party could not afford to have infighting in the presidential council, the party’s administrative body, every week.

He added that the door to the council would be opened to both the Youth and Wanita leaders if they had supported the GUP.

Outside interference akin to ‘political godfather’ culture, says Ti

Outside interference akin to ‘political godfather’ culture, says Ti

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/43925-outside-interference-akin-to-political-godfather-culture-says-ti

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 — MCA central committee member Datuk Ti Lian Ker said there should be no "political godfather" culture in the party where party leaders turn to other component parties for support.

"There should be no culture of this sort from within the party, where certain individuals continually subvert and undermine the party's agenda, purely because they have the comfort of crying to their political godfather outside the party."

This was in response to the Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's comment from Rome expressing the possibility of Umno intervening in MCA's on-going leadership crisis.

"We appreciate the DPM's concern, but at the same time we would like to see to the party's internal affairs ourselves in order to stabilise the party," said Ti, who is also MCA liaison bureau chief.

Ti, a staunch supporter of MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, feels that the "perception" of outside interference will further damage the integrity of the party.

"When other BN component parties have internal problems, they don't let other parties step in to solve their problems. MCA , as of late, seems to be orchestrating a scenario to justify external interference," said Ti.

He also hit out at MCA Youth chief Datuk Wee Ka Siong and Wanita chief Datuk Paduka Chew Mei Fun for dramatising as well as distorting the “reshuffling” of the presidential council.

"The presidential council is merely a body responsible for the administration of the affairs of the party. The media has been misled into making headlines that appear as if the GUP (Greater Unity Plan) has failed, or there are abuses or wrongdoings."

He added that the usage of expressions such as "burn", "chop" and "slash" to describe the removal of several MCA leaders from the presidential council is incorrect as the issue does not exist. The president simply needed to appoint people whom he deemed fit to implement the GUP, a team which does not undermine the MCA leadership.

"This is nothing but political drama. I can testify that Wee Ka Siong and Chew Mei Fun were happily giving their views, smiling and laughing throughout the CC meeting, which has been the best CC meeting after the recent EGM.

"They were present, and had the right to seek clarification and not go to the media and put on theatrics and accuse the leadership of wrongdoings. They resorted to the drama of breaking down and crying in public," said Ti, who appeared quite emotional himself.

He asserted that despite the reshuffle, the Wanita and Youth wings are still adequately represented.

He urged component BN parties not to encourage "street political culture" and to emulate Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's stand on the matter.

"I hope that whatever the external decisions, component leaders should emulate the Prime Minister's leadership values of checking, seeking explanation before making statements perceived to be undermining the leadership of MCA."

Ironically, the prime minister himself just stated today that he will in fact step in and meet party leaders individually, after describing the leadership tussle in the party as "worse" and "more serious."

He also said that many people were upset with the party and this does go well with Barisan's attempt to resuscitate the coalition and reform its image in the eyes of the public.

Najib's statement echoes Muhyiddin's, an indication that Umno is growing weary of MCA's internal bickering.

Ong yesterday dropped Wee, Chew and seven others aligned to vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai from the party's presidential council.

Ong's decision to drop Liow's supporters has plunged the party deeper into crisis with a disputed EGM looming.

The party president replaced Liow's men on the presidential council with supporters of Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, reflecting a deal between the two men to fill the party appointments with leaders aligned either with Ong or Dr Chua.

Wednesday November 18, 2009

Ti blames it on biased reporting by Chinese media

PETALING JAYA: The MCA is in the process of resolving its internal problems but the party is not receiving the encouragement and support from the Chinese media, said central committee (CC) member Datuk Ti Lian Ker.

He said all parties including Umno had their share of political upheavals and would ultimately be settled with the victor emerging stronger.

Ti accused the Chinese media of being partisan in their reporting, adding the media and other forces had fanned up speculations to remove party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.

“If they cannot remove Ong as president, then they are prepared to destroy, sideline or marginalise MCA,” said Ti, who is also the party Kuantan division head, said in his blog tilianker.blogspot.com.

In a hard-hitting posting, Ti said the Chinese media was now monopolised by the Sin Chew group, saying “the power of the Chinese media over the Chinese electorate would render the media owner personal power without having to be directly involved in the political arena.”

Ti also criticised an article on the political situation in MCA written by Rita Sim (pic), the executive director of Sin Chew Media Corp Bhd, which had appeared in an English daily.

Sim wrote that MCA had to resolve its internal problems soon before the Chinese community looked elsewhere for a more reliable representation.

She commented that MCA appeared to be incapable of resolving its leadership crisis, and there was increasing speculation that other alternative channels in the Chinese community might step into the political representation vacuum left by the MCA’s inability to perform.

Ti said Sim’s article was not based on research, but based on an earlier article written by her and published in another English publication previously.

“Sim is no longer the deputy chairman of Insap (Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research) as she has tendered her resignation,” he wrote in his blog.

He said Sim, by proposing alternative channels to fill “a created or orchestrated political vacuum” was doing a “great injustice to the MCA.”

Related Stories:
Ong: Work together to succeed in China
MCA may adopt new system to pick party leaders, says Soi Lek
Chew has discredited herself, says Chua

Sri Gading MP slammed

Sri Gading MP slammed Tuesday, 17 November 2009 01:55

KUALA LUMPUR - An MP from Johor has been taken to task for using his parliamentary immunity to level unfounded accusations against Ong Tee Keat. The MCA NGO Liaison Bureau jumped to Ong's defence, saying Sri Gading MP Mohamad Aziz (left) was misleading the public by suggesting the Transport Minister had committed improprieties or abuses when KTM Berhad bought four used diesel multiple units. "Of late, there are Barisan Nasional backbenchers who behave worse than irresponsible opposition members in distorting or misrepresenting allege abuses whereas there were blatant abuses and public misappropriations escaping their eyes such as the PKFZ scandal," said bureau chief Ti Lian Ker here on Monday. From non-issue to issue "The questionable manner and sensationalism of a non-issue seemed not only to reflect badly on individual MPs but also the federal government and Barisan Nasional as the ruling party. Why are they spinning a non-issue into an issue?" Ti also questioned Mohamad's motive, saying that Ong had done nothing wrong and was working in accordance with public expectations of commitment, accountability and transparency. Unwarranted attacks from within the coalition is sending the wrong signal to the public, said Ti, who equated such action as a "head-hunting spree".

Last Updated on Tuesday, 17 November 2009 05:22

Tuesday November 17, 2009

Say sorry to Ong for baseless innuendoes, Sri Gading MP told

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/11/17/nation/5126633&sec=nation

PETALING JAYA: The MCA special task force bureau wants Sri Gading MP Datuk Mohamad Aziz to apologise to Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat for raising “baseless innuendoes” over the KTM Bhd train purchase.

Its chairman Simon Lim said in a statement here yesterday that Mohamad should be taken to task for his unnecessary outburst in Parliament.

“It is totally irresponsible for him to raise such slanderous claims when he does not have an inkling on the background of the diesel multiple units’ (DMUs) purchase.

“Any right-minded person would do a background investigation on the issue before spewing such verbal toxins.

“If the Sri Gading MP is a man of honour, he should issue an unequivocal apology to the MCA president immediately for whatever he was implying at and not easily hide behind parliamentary immunity,” he said, questioning if Mohamad had a “hidden motive” for creating such innuendoes.

The MP had in his debate inquired if there was “something fishy” about the purchase.

“His rhetoric did not cease when Mohamad Aziz called on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the minister, inaccurately alluding to Ong of misappropriation, and if necessary, to charge him in court, and erroneously implying that the minister had squandered money on the purchase of old trains,” said Lim.

He pointed out that Ong had issued an explanation on the purchase to the media while the ministry had also provided a point-by-point statement on the eight issues regarding the purchase.

He said it was unfortunate when MPs misused their parliamentary immunity to launch tirades and baseless allegations against their fellow MPs.

MCA NGO liaison bureau chief Datuk Ti Lian Ker, in slamming Mohamad, said the manner which ministries were taken to task over “non-issues” was disappointing the public.

“It’s worse if MPs among the backbenchers are seen to be barking up the wrong tree or perceived to be abusing their parliamentary privileges to discredit targeted ministries or ministers,” he said.

Ti also lamented that lately, there were Barisan Nasional backbenchers who “behaved worse then irresponsible Opposition members” in distorting or misrepresenting to the public alleged abuses.

“Their actions have led the public to believe there is a dire need to upgrade the quality of our elected representatives,” he said, adding that this culture which used to be prevalent among Opposition MPs was now common among backbenchers, giving the perception that they lacked credibility, ability and integrity.

He said the backbenchers acted as if they were “going for a head-hunting spree”.

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TI LIAN KER: Ong's advice to tread with caution ignored

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/20tiit/Article/index_html

2009/11/08

THE latest developments in MCA had the legal eagles seeking answers and solutions to the confusion and collusions.

To begin with, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai goes down in history as the first and only person who has shared the secretary-general's post in MCA Youth in 2002, and that of the deputy president's post from Oct 15 to Nov 3 this year.

In 2002, Loh Seng Kok and Liow, who were the political secretaries to Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik and Tan Sri Lim Ah Lek respectively, held the post of MCA Youth secretary-general jointly.

This was despite the fact that the constitution of MCA Youth provides for only one secretary-general. The constitutional provisions were not upheld.

That was the time when the MCA constitution was sidelined, and the rule of law made a mockery of by leaders who were all too powerful and mighty.

That was the time when MCA Youth members threw chairs during the general assembly.

That was the time when the MCA held an election where nominations were allowed, but elections disallowed.

Liow made history again lately when he successfully lobbied and received sufficient support in the powerful Central Committee (CC) to bulldoze him into being deputy president on Oct 15.

This was despite the president's (Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat's) caution and hesitation -- supported by another vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen -- that the party should tread cautiously to avoid moving further into troubled waters.

The president had said there was no need to be hasty in deciding that the deputy president's position is vacant and as such the post need not be filled immediately as Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek had written to the Registrar of Societies to clarify his legal status after the Oct 10 EGM resolutions.

This was to avoid any subsequent complications arising from the election of a new deputy president when there may not be a vacancy.

However, the agenda was to appoint Liow as the deputy president and thereafter force or pressure the president to quit in the name of respecting the EGM.

This was in view of the provision in the party constitution that "if the president shall cease to hold office for any reason whatsoever, the deputy president shall hold that office as president..."

The former legal bureau chairman had insisted that the resolutions for Oct 10 need only be passed by a simple majority during the Oct 15 CC meeting.

Subsequently, Liow was elected by a majority of the CC to fill in the purported vacancy of the deputy president's post.

On Nov 3, the Registrar wrote to Soi Lek stating the MCA deputy president's post was not vacant.

Therefore, the decision of the CC on Oct 15 was flawed and void ab initio. The CC meeting on Nov 3 had rectified and corrected the error by adopting the clarification by the Registrar.

Unfortunately, this was not accepted by Liow who reserved his right to pursue the matter in a court of law.

Next came the requisition by the president on Oct 15 calling for an EGM under Article 30.1 to resolve whether fresh elections need to be held. This was strongly opposed by some CC members. Liow himself had in the CC meeting said that the party was capable of resolving existing problems, and he had disagreed with the call for another EGM.

He had also said that the president could continue to lead. However, he said that many CC members were worried about the image of the president and the party.

Liow had insisted that the CC meeting be allowed to find the best solution to resolve the party's problem, and that another EGM would be a waste of party funds and resources.

On Oct 29, 16 CC members who were opposed to the president's call for an EGM did an about turn.

They signed a requisition for an EGM pursuant to Article 30.2 of the constitution. The requisition was said to have been endorsed and supported by Liow, too.

Both the requisitions were rejected by the secretary-general as being unconstitutional as the circumstances for calling for a fresh election had been stated by the constitution as follows:

i. Under Article 167 whereby the party is to hold an election every three years;

ii. Under Article 41 where two-thirds or more of the elected central committee members cease to be members;

iii. Under Article 35 where there is a dismissal of all or at least two-thirds or more of the members of the central committee by virtue of Article 41.

* Datuk Ti Lian Ker is a MCA central committee member.

Developments in the MCA since the Oct 10 extraordinary general meeting have captivated public attention. TI LIAN KER offers a look into the goings-on within the party's powerful central committee.