MCA polls: CC will decide

Wednesday, 20 January 2010 16:56

KUALA LUMPUR - The MCA central committee, which meets on Jan 29, is expected to decide whether the party polls will be held next year, as scheduled, or call for fresh elections. A party insider told Bernama the CC is going to deliberate on this issue after the special committee on re-election presents its report to the committee. "Whether we are going to have fresh polls now or wait until next year will be known after the meeting," the party insider told the news agency Wednesday. Party deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek heads the six-member special committee. Chua had reportedly said the earliest the polls could be held is March and although he expressed his willingness to resign, to date he had not submitted any resignation letter. He also said that if he wanted to resign, he would do so at his own time and not on the terms laid down by vice-president Liow Tiong Lai. He had dared Liow to hold an EGM if he (Liow) was confident that the party members would support a fresh election. Sacked and then reinstated Chua had been sacked from the party and at the infamous Oct 10 EGM last year, delegates had voted against his reinstatement. At the same time, they also passed a vote of no confidence against party president Ong Tee Keat. Liow was appointed the deputy president when Chua's status was in limbo. However, a ruling by the Registrar of Societies that all elected officer bearers at the last MCA elections remain unchanged, allowed Chua to return to the No 2 post while Liow found himself back as a vice-president. Liow and 12 CC members have since been pushing for fresh party polls and had submitted undated letters of resignation to party secretary-general Wong Foon Ming. Not enough resignations for fresh polls However, they failed to get enough CC members to resign to make up for two-thirds or at least 21 resignations in order to allow for fresh polls to be held. Under the party's constitution, fresh polls must be held within 30 days if 21 out of the 31 elected CC members resign. Chua had said some CC members had confessed that they might want to resign after the Chinese New Year. Others had said they were not in the mood to have fresh polls now and would rather wait for their term to expire next year. Let's celebrate, not quarrel Commenting on current developments, Bernama quoted CC member Tan Chai Ho as saying: "The Chinese New Year is coming, so don't quarrel. "Let's celebrate the new year. Many party grassroots are not interested in having the polls soon, as the normal party elections are only a year away." Another CC member, Ti Lian Ker, argued that even if party fresh polls were held now, those elected would only be serving for the remaining term before the party elections next year. "By December this year, everyone will be busy renewing their party membership. "By March next year, the election at the grassroot level will begin before that for the party leadership in October," he told the nes agency. "Why should we waste time on fresh polls now when the normal party elections are just round the corner?" he asked, adding that the impression given is that MCA members have nothing better to than fight for positions. - Malaysian Mirror/Bernama

I think this meeting should appoint those positions that are currently vacant , like for example the Disciplinary Board members without with , no disciplinary actions can be taken against members who bad mouth the Party . Also the Organising Secretary is one important position that needs to be filled .