Close ranks and soldier on,

MCA told

MCA trio meet Chinese community leaders

Ong, Dr Chua, and Liow shared a table with several Chinese leaders. — Picture by Choo Choy May

By Lee Wei Lian

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 17 — The three men embroiled in a power struggle within the MCA sat down together at a dinner to hear feedback from several Chinese community leaders.

MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and his deputy, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, dined on scallops and fish at the same table as their current rival Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, as community leaders expressed “deep concern” over the situation in MCA.

However, there was no concrete outcome from the discussions, which were described as “jovial.”

Liow left a few minutes before the press conference for another engagement.

“It was a brainstorming session, we wouldn’t want to make it too serious and we managed to churn out some good ideas,” said Ong.

“The MCA leadership is grateful to the community over their deep concern and we share the same concern that we should set aside our differences and work together.”

Dr Chua said the discussions on the political turmoil in MCA were amicable and the leadership pledged to work to unite the party.

The president of the Federation of Chinese Associations, or Hua Zhong, Tan Sri Datuk Pheng Yin Huah, said he hoped that MCA would unite.

“Hua Zhong still needs Chinese ministers to solve the community’s problems,” he said.

He also described the dinner as jovial and filled with laughter.

MCA is embroiled in a protracted power struggle; first between Ong and Dr Chua, and now between the two men and Liow.

Ong and Dr Chua are pushing a power-sharing deal — called the Greater Unity Plan — that seeks to accommodate the various factions, a move which Liow says is disrespectful of the party’s Oct 10 EGM results.

The infighting in MCA comes as the party is trying to assure its future relevance even as the majority of Chinese Malaysians have turned their attention to the opposition.

Barisan Nasional chairman and Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak has also expressed impatience with the turmoil in MCA and its Indian counterpart MIC, and has been making overtures directly to the Chinese and Indian communities.

Other community and business leaders at the dinner were Association of Chinese Chambers of Commerce President Tan Sri William Cheng; Tomei founder and Hakka Association chief Tan Sri Ng Teck Fong; executive chairman of IOI Corporation and third-richest man in Malaysia, Tan Sri Lee Shin Cheng; and chairman of the Malaysian Chinese 7 Clans Associations, Datuk Koong Heng Sze.

MCA leaders at the dinner included vice presidents Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, Youth chief Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong and central committee members Loh Seng Kok and Tan Chai Ho.

The business, guilds and association leaders were unanimous that MCA needed to stay focused on a wide variety of issues relevant to the community.

These comments were made at a dinner organised by party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat as a brainstorming session which was attended by almost all of the party leadership.

It was a rare occurance for all the feuding party leaders to be seated for dinner in one table since the MCA became embroiled in a split over the leadership in the past few months but last night they sat together to discuss community matters with the heads of various Chinese organisations.

“The community and business leaders also expressed their satisfaction in the way the party cooperates with the Chinese community in, among others, overcoming economic and education problems,” he said.