MCA: Is boycott a sensible move?

KUALA LUMPUR - Is boycotting party functions and events an appropriate way to solve the prolonged leadership crisis in MCA, the second largest Barisan Nasional component?

Those aligned to MCA vice-president Liow Tiong Lai, feel that boycott is the only option to show their dissatisfaction against the party leadership led by president Ong Tee Keat and deputy Dr Chua Soi Lek.

After failing to push for a fresh party election to pick the national leaders, party insiders say the move by Liow is to create a perception that all is not well in the party and there is a split.

Liow's faction over the past months have been trying to get two-thirds of the party's all-powerful central committee to resign en bloc in the bid to force for fresh polls. This, however, failed as only 13 CC members submitted their undated and unconditional resignation letters.

Against principle of democracy

"They just want to show that the party continues to be disunited in order to force a fresh party election. Basically, they are running out of options as they cannnot call for the EGM after they missed the opportunity in November.

"The momentum is not there anymore. It will be difficult to push for fresh polls through an EGM. So, the only option available is to boycott (party events) to show that the resistence is still there," said a party insider.

Former MCA secretary-general Dr Ting Chew Peh said Liow's faction should not resort to such a drastic action as this was very much against the principle of democracy.

"If you are in the CC, whether you like it or not, you've got to follow the decision made although there might have been differences of opinion. If you can't, then you've got to quit," he said.

Ting said the action by Liow's group was not only improper but also bad for the party's image.

"You cannot force people to resign to have your way. If they (Liow's faction) put party interest above their own, they should sit down and work together with the current leaders and other CC members," he said.

MCA veteran Yap Pian Hon said the action by Liow's faction was "akin to declaring war against your own party" and showed glaring immaturity in handling the party's internal crisis.

Yap said they should realise that they were voted in by party members, and the government positions given to them was based on the party's recommendations.

"They have a social responsibility to help the party, not to destroy it. You can disagree with others' opinions but once the decision is made, you cannot resort to a boycott. Otherwise, you must have the courage to resign.

"You cannot talk about integrity and not practise it. What they are doing is very serious to the party," he said.

The statement issued by Liow's faction Tuesday is rather vague as it does not state clearly the party functions and activities that would be boycotted.

While the Mandarin version of the statement does not mention the names of the present leadership, the English version clearly makes mention of Ong and Dr Chua.

Asked by reporters Tuesday whether his faction would boycott the upcoming party anniversary celebration, annual general meeting or any presidential council or CC meeting, Liow was silent except for a nod, which has been interpreted as 'Yes' by the media.

Utterly irresponsible act

Party sources close to the faction claimed that they purposely did not specifically mention the functions or activities as they claimed the party election could still be held any time soon.

Once Ong and Chua could reach a consensus, there would be fresh polls, the sources said.

Wong Nai Chee, a CC member aligned to Liow said their group decided on the boycott as they insisted that fresh polls were the ultimate solution to the party crisis while some members had lost faith in Ong and Chua.

"By not having a fresh election, they are dragging the party into further chaos. It is an utterly irresponsible act.

"The party is currently in a chaotic state as the leaders are not respecting the resolutions of the Oct 10 EGM, which passed a motion of no confidence against the president and rejected Chua's reinstatement as deputy president," he said. - Bernama