MCA warring factions should have worked together, says Ti

MCA warring factions should have worked together, says Ti

http://www.mmail.com.my/content/22411-mca-warring-factions-should-have-worked-
together-says-ti

Submitted by aazman on Sunday, December 20th, 2009

• Local
• Politics

Sunday, December 20th, 2009 16:24:00

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA’s warring factions should have worked together in unison, quietly ironing out differences and agreeing to the approaches towards fresh elections without compromising or breaching the sanctity and supremacy of the party constitution, says MCA Central Committee (CC) member Datuk Ti Lian Ker.

He claims this did not happen, however, when some CC members "hijacked" and "disrupted" the functions of the party’s special committee by tendering an insufficient number of resignations.

The special committee had been set up by the CC, the party’s decision-making body, to work out a solution for the party to hold fresh polls.

Writing in his blog, Ti says this was tantamount to obstructing the Greater Unity Plan (GUP).

With discipline, Ti says, all the CC members could have waited for the recommendations of the special committee and submitted their resignations together to pave the way for fresh elections in the interest of the party in due time.

Last Wednesday, MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and 12 other party leaders submitted undated letters of resignation as CC members to party secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Ming in a move to enable fresh elections to be held to resolve the party's leadership crisis.

Their resignations were only to take effect if they met the requirement of two-thirds, or 21, of the 31 CC members having to resign before the elections could be held.

Besides Liow, the others who tendered their resignations include Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Wee Jeck Seng, Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Hou Kok Chung, veteran CC member Datuk Wong Mook Leong and vice-president Tan Kok Hong.

Some elected ordinary CC members who also submitted their undated resignation letters are Lee Wei Kiat, Datuk Yu Chok Tow, Wong Nai Chee, Senator Datuk Yeow Chai Thiam, Datuk Hoh Khai Mun, Datuk Liew Yuen Keong, Datuk Edward Khoo Keok Hai and Senator Datuk Alex Wong Siong Hwee.

Meanwhile, the former state assemblyman for Pulau Manis in Pahang, Datuk Mohd Ariff Sabri Abdul Aziz, says the Barisan Nasional (BN) should adopt a better and long-term strategy in handling the ongoing MCA crisis.

Mohd Ariff, better known as sakmongkol AK47 in the blogosphere, says the MCA must be seen as a dependable, rational and stable representative of the Chinese community.

At the very elementary level, the MCA must be allowed to carry out measures it sees as necessary, he writes in his blog.

Mohd Ariff says the MCA has the legitimate desire to be seen as the representative voice of the Chinese and it expects this self image to be appreciated and approved by others (in the BN).

Recently, Umno, the senior member of the BN coalition, has been holding talks with MCA leaders in a bid to help resolve the ongoing leadership crisis.

Political observers believe that Umno’s concern is understandable in that it wants the MCA, in particular, and the BN, in general, to be able to put their house in order quickly so as to concentrate on the crucial "bread and butter" issues facing the people instead of being embroiled in a political conflict and be left in political limbo.

They are of the opinion that BN leaders and party workers should waste no time to better explain to the people the efforts and benefits of the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and the progress achieved so far under the National Key Result Areas (NKRAs) by the various government departments and agencies.

MCA: How low must we go to accommodate 'Third Force'?

MCA: How low must we go to accommodate 'Third Force'?

http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/120159

Ti
Dec 18, 09
6:20pm

I refer to the Malaysiakini report MCA VP Liow leads 13 to quit CC.

I have refrained from writing on the MCA to allow all parties to have a cooling-off period. In order to achieve a consensus towards a fresh election, all parties must unite on a common platform under the supervision of the 'Special Committee for Fresh Party Election' formed to build this consensus in the interests of the MCA.

The central committee had unanimously formed this committee chaired by Chua Soi Lek to iron out the technicalities towards a fresh party election. EvenMCA President Ong Tee Keat had humbly refrained from commenting on this issue with due respect to the committee formed by the party.

Why then is 'Liow Tiong Lai & Gang' staging a very public 'resignation' at a time when the prime minister's hands are full with many other national issues such as the MACC, the BTN, the Nazri-Mahathir spat, the PKFZ persecutions, etc?

Ideally and spiritually, the understanding is that we must all work together in unison, quietly ironing out the differences and agreeing to the approaches for a fresh election without compromising or breaching the sanctity and supremacy of the MCA constitution.

The perceived sovereignty of the MCA is equaly important to ensure that the party's image, independence and dignity is safeguarded and maintained.

All MCA leaders have taken their oath and pledge to uphold the MCA constitution. We have pledged to abide and uphold the provisions of the MCA constitution. We do not want a repeat of 2002 when the MCA constitution was 'raped' on directives from forces outside the party.

That was the darkest point of our MCA's history and I have since then lost all my respect for the leadership of Ling Liong Sik/Ong Ka Ting and Lim Ah Lek/Chan Kong Choy. They had collectively failed the party and the community.

All CC members have agreed to refrain from making public statements on the 'fresh election' while the Special Committee deliberates towards a consensus. With discipline, we could have all waited for the recommendations of this Special Committee and signed our resignation letters together towards a fresh election upon taking into considerations the Special Committee's recommendations. We could have all done so in the interests of the party.

But again the Special Committee's functions have been hijacked and disrupted by the indiscipline of this same ferocious gang. The 'Third Force' has created a rift between the president and his deputy. The Third Force had orchestrated the EGM. The Third Force had obstructed and hijacked the 'Greater Unity Plan'.

How low must we go to accommodate the aggressiveness of the Third Force? Back to the questions in my head today:

1. Why did Liow orchestrate a very public tendering of an insufficient number of 'false resignations'? Is he showing that he is now the 'boss' or diverting attention from the MACC inquiry on his special birthday gift to his wife?

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/120015

2. Liow should have respected the Special Committee that was formed and approved by the central committee. If the president can humble himself and subscribe to the party's decisions, who is the vice-president to display his arrogance and disregard for the party?

3. Liow himself is a member of the Special Committee so why is he discussing issues outside of the committee without regard for decorum and discipline of the party? Where is the discipline and the leadership by example of a good leader?

4. Why must there be a pubic display of a 'signing ceremony' for 'non-resignations' or 'conditional resignations' before the secretary-general? Why should the secretary-general be a party to such indiscipline and political theatrics?

5. Didn't the secretary-general send a couriered letter of resignation to all the elected central committee members? This procedure was approved and agreed to by the Special Committee of which Liow is a member but he himself is not respecting such a civil method.

6. Why are our leaders not respecting the MCA headquarters? If there is any resignation, just tender the same to the party HQ. Why are our leaders not showing the due respect to our party? Where is our discipline and order?

7. Are we starting a rebellious political culture by quietly whispering and misleading the members on the ground that all this is endorsed by 'atas'? Who are the 'atas'? Do this 'atas' really support such indiscipline in the MCA?

8. Lastly, I must say that Liow's theatrics are very similar to our 'Renaissance Man' Anwar Ibrahim. Did Liow learn them from Anwar or his political master Chan Kong Choy?

Liow has the best of public relations skill second only nto his 'master'. Chan is media savvy and is an expert on public relations. He had the Chinese media and NGO's kowtowing him when he was in power. He knows how and when to steal the thunder and when to avoid the lightning...

Will the prime minister or deputy prime minister endorsed the remnants of Anwar's or Chan's political culture? Let's see...

Ti slams Liow for drama over quit letters

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/6enti/Article/index_html

2009/12/17

KUALA LUMPUR: An MCA central committee member has lambasted vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai for getting 12 leaders to stage a public resignation from the central committee to pave way for fresh party elections.

Datuk Ti Lian Ker said the "theatrics" of Liow and the 12 leaders were similar to the antics of opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

"Why did Liow orchestrate a very public and political drama of tendering an insufficient number of 'false resignations'?

"Did Liow learn this from Anwar? Is he showing that he is now the boss or diverting attention away from the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) which has questioned his wife?

"Is this Liow's art of media and public diversion at work since he enjoys a good relationship with the media?" he wrote in his blog at www.tilianker.blogspost.com.

On Tuesday, Liow led 12 others to submit their undated resignation letters to secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng.

The resignations will only be effective when two-thirds or 21 of the 31 elected members quit.

At the same time, Liow's wife, Datin Seri Lee Sun Loo was questioned by the MACC over allegations that she was given a multi-purpose vehicle as a birthday gift from a company involved in Health Ministry projects.

Ti said there was an understanding among CC members that no one should make any public statement while the committee on fresh elections deliberated on its find-ings before forwarding recommendations to the CC.

He said everyone could submit their resignations together to facilitate fresh elections after going through the committee's recommendations.

Ti said the actions of "Liow and company" had obstructed the Greater Unity Plan.

Ti: Respect MCA special panel

Thursday December 17, 2009
Ti: Respect MCA special panel

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai has been asked to respect the Special Committee for Fresh Party Election.

Party central committee member Datuk Ti Lian Ker said Liow should stop making public statements on the issue and allow the committee to work out a consensus towards fresh polls.

The committee, chaired by deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek with Liow also as a member, is to iron out the technicalities towards fresh polls.

Ti said all central committee members had agreed to refrain from making public statements on the matter.

He said Liow and his group had, however, shown their disrespect to the committee by orchestrating a very public and political drama of tendering an insufficient number of resignations of the CC members.

“As a member of the committee, why is he taking the issues out of the committee without regards to the decorum and discipline of the party?

“With discipline, we could have waited for the recommendations of the committee and signed our resignations together,’’ he said.

Ti had queried Liow’s motive for tendering his resignation letter and those of 12 other central committee members to MCA secretary-general Senator Datuk Wong Foon Meng at Parliament on Tuesday.

Others who also signed were vice-president Tan Kok Hong, Lee Wei Kiat, Dr Hou Kok Chung, Datuk Yu Chok Tow, Wong Nai Chee, Datuk Wee Jeck Seng, Senator Datuk Dr Yeow Chai Thiam, Datuk Hoh Khai Mun, Datuk Liew Yuen Keong, Datuk Wong Mook Leong, Datuk Edward Khoo Keok Hai and Senator Datuk Alex Wong Siong Hwee.

Ti had asked if Liow was diverting the attention from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s in­­quiry into the alleged luxury birthday present received by Liow’s wife Datin Seri Lee Sun Loo.

Stating that Liow and his group had stolen the thunder and avoided the lightning, Ti called for all parties to unite on a common platform under the supervision of the committee in the common interest of MCA.

“We must all work together in unison, quietly ironing out the differences and agreeing to the approaches towards a fresh election without compromising or breaching the sanctity and supremacy of the MCA constitution.

“The perceived sovereignty of the MCA is of utmost importance to ensure that the party’s image, independence and dignity is safeguarded and maintained at all times,’’ he said.

Tuesday December 15, 2009

MCA: Track down syndicates that use disfigured beggars

PETALING JAYA: The disgraceful and the inhuman approach of using disfigured people as beggars at night markets by syndicates should be banished from the Malaysian way of life, said MCA NGO Liaison Bureau chairman Datuk Ti Lian Ker.

“The authorities must show their seriousness in tackling the issue by taking immediate action to stamp out these activities. There must be zero tolerance of this sort of crime,” he wrote in his blog yesterday.

Ti said the bureau was concerned with the modus operandi of syndicates, which used disfigured beggars to prey on the sentiments of the people.

The bureau called on the police to take immediate action to stop the activities of the syndicates in line with the Prime Minister’s national key results area placing crime reduction on top of its list, he said.

“The police must not only be pursuing the taxi operators who ferry the beggars but also the syndicate members,” he said.

Ti, who is also an MCA central committee member, said he believes the beggars were maimed so that they could not be identified by their fingerprints.

“There is a possibility that these beggars may not be all foreigners. There is nothing to stop the syndicates from abducting locals, disfiguring them and then forcing them to become beggars,” he added.

Ti congratulated The Star for its reports on Sunday on syndicates getting thousands of ringgit by recruiting disfigured beggars to “work” for them at market places in Malacca.

“We have seen how the authorities have lost in the war against Ah Long, drugs and prostitution as a result of tolerance, attitude and failure to take any action.

“We do not want to see disfigured people being used as beggars to become part of the Malaysian way of life,” he said, adding that organised crime was a serious threat to the peace and security.

Ti: Strategi Umno ketepikan MCA, MIC langkah bahaya

Ti: Strategi Umno ketepikan MCA, MIC langkah bahaya

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/index.php/bahasa/45715--ti-strategi-umno-ketepikan-mca-mic-langkah-bahaya

Oleh G. Manimaran

PETALING JAYA, Dis 7 — Di sebalik masalah dalaman MCA yang berlarutan, seorang pemimpin pusat MCA menegaskan, tindakan Umno mendampingi pertubuhan-pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) sebagai saluran sendiri untuk memikat sokongan pengundi Cina dan India dalam pilihan raya umum akan datang sebagai langkah “bahaya” dan “tidak berbaloi”.

Ahli Jawatankuasa Pusat MCA itu, Ti Lian Ker dari Pahang berkata, kebelakangan ini sudah ada ura-ura yang Umno mencari saluran baru untuk mendekati dan memancing undi secara langsung pengundi-pengundi Cina dan India.

Katanya langkah itu menunjukkan Umno sudah mula mahu mengetepikan peranan MCA dan MIC sebagai parti komponen Barisan Nasional (BN).

Menurut beliau tindakan itu diambil kononnya Umno kurang senang dengan ketidakupayaan MCA dan MIC mengembalikan sokongan undi Cina dan India kepada BN yang menghadapi kekalahan demi kekalahan dalam pilihan kecil sejak selepas pilihan raya umum ke-12.

“Ada di kalangan pemimpin Umno tidak setuju apabila Umno dipersalahkan sebagai satu sebab utama undi-undi Cina dan India yang setia pada BN meninggalkan BN.

“Keangkuhan dan penyalahgunaan kuasa Umno dan BN dipersalahkan dan tuntutan dibuat supaya Umno dan BN membuat perubahan untuk mengurangkan bahang anti-BN yang memberi penumpuan dan sasaran pada Umno sebagai tunggak BN.

“Ketidaksenangan Umno terhadap kritikan ini yang menyebabkan ada di kalangan tokoh Umno bercadang bertindak balas dengan mengatur strategi dan pendekatan baru untuk mengembalikan undi pada BN,” kata beliau dalam tulisan blognya.

Bekas wakil rakyat tinggal penggal itu menambah, terdapat juga ura-ura untuk berurusan secara langsung dengan pertubuhan-pertubuhan NGO Cina dan India tanpa melalui dan menghormati tradisi politik MCA dan MIC.

“Ada juga ura-ura bekerjasama dengan PAS dan mengetepikan MCA dan MIC secara total kiranya pengundi Cina dan India tetap degil.

“Namun pendekatan politik ini tidaklah sihat bagi imej negara di mata antarabangsa dan membawa padah perkembangan politik jangka masa panjang dalam negara,” katanya.

Beliau berkata Umno telah memberi perhatian kepada mana-mana pertubuhan politik dan seakan-akan merestui Parti Makkal Sakti dan Parti Progresif India (IPF) yang merupakan pecahan dari MIC.

“Ura-ura terakhir Umno ialah dengan memperkudakan NGO-NGO masyarakat Tionghua seperti Hua Zhong (Gabungan Persatuan Tionghua), 7 Da Xiang Duan, ACCIM dan lain-lain untuk mendapatkan kembali sokongan pengundi Cina kepada BN dalam pilihan raya umum akan datang,” katanya lagi.

Kata Ti, pendekatan itu adalah bahaya dan akan menemui jalan buntu serta tidak berbaloi.

“Besar kemungkinan permainan politik ini akan dibalas dengan undi-undi protes terhadap percubaan memperkudakan NGO-NGO Tionghua yang rata-rata ‘apolitical’ dan tidak digalakkan terlibat dengan parti politik secara langsung.

“Sekiranya pemimpin-pemimpin NGO dilihat seakan-akan menggadaikan maruah pertubuhan kepada BN, ahli-ahli dan penggundi Cina akan menunjukkan protes mereka dalam peti undi secara membisu.

“Masyarakat Cina mengharapkan NGO-NGO Tionghua terus memainkan peranan mereka sebagai ‘watch-dog’ dan ‘pressure-group’ ke atas mana-mana pihak berkuasa. Kiranya ada pemimpin NGO Cina yang terlalu rapat dan seakan-akan mempunyai kepentingan diri dengan membantu politik BN, maka ada padahnya menanti,” katanya.

MCA think-tank eyes bigger role

MCA think-tank eyes bigger role

Tags: INSAP | MCA | Ti Lian Ker

Written by Patrick Fong

Friday, 04 December 2009 17:20

KUALA LUMPUR: The Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research (Insap) is seeking to engage a broader audience on issues related to mainstream politics and economics, said the think-tank's coordinator Datuk Ti Lian Ker. The think-tank has been too focused on the MCA and the Chinese community, said Ti, who is also MCA's NGO liaison bureau chairman, at a press conference today. This engagement is necessary as a lot of discussions are needed about issues that have been dealt with in a reactionary matter, Ti added. Citing issues such as Dr Khoo Kay Kim’s criticism of rote-learning in the Chinese education system and the National Civics Bureau (BTN) modules that have come under public scrutiny, Ti said Insap hopes to articulate such issues in a rational an unemotional manner. Commenting further on the BTN courses, Ti said he hopes the government will review the BTN to ensure that it encourages the spirit of 1Malaysia and unity, especially in the country’s administration. However, reaching out further would require more manpower and resources, said Ti. The institute would discuss this in detail before implementing it next year, he added.