Liow , Go Fly Kite

Tee Keat dismisses party polls in 60 days

By Lee Wei Lian

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 29 — MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat brushed aside the "declaration" adopted by his rivals that fresh party polls should be held in 60 days.

He also blasted estranged party vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai for suggesting that the party's annual general meeting (AGM), scheduled for Dec 5, should be postponed.

"Anyone can make claims (regarding fresh poll dates) but what is important is that they follow due process and follow the constitution," said the Transport Minister.

A briefing held by Liow and his allies yesterday and attended by about 1,000 members and delegates had endorsed a statement, called the 1128 declaration that called for fresh elections in 60 days.

Ong (picture) said that parties wanting the AGM to be postponed should have referred the matter to the party's central committee and not show a "lack of discipline" by making public announcements.

Ong declined to disclose any possible dates for fresh elections in MCA but said it would be dependent on whether there would be elections at the Youth and Wanita wings and whether it would be done via a new direct elections model as opposed to the current proportional one.

Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong and Wanita chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun had yesterday expressed their opposition to fresh polls in the junior wings as preferred by their rivals.

Ong denied rumours that he was in London negotiating a defection to PKR and blamed unidentified parties linked to the scandal-hit Port Klang Free Zone project for the "baseless slander".

Asked when would he meet Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muyhiddin Yasin to discuss a solution to the MCA power struggle, Ong replied that what was important was communication and that he had been in communication with Muhyiddin.