Reps of MCA president and Chua to hold EGM talks today

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KLANG: Representatives of both MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and his sacked deputy Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek will meet and discuss preparations for the extraordinary general meeting today.

Party secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng said he had invited representatives of Ong and three central committee members - Datuk Seri Tan Chai Ho, Datuk Chong Itt Chew and Loh Seng Kok - who are acting for Dr Chua, to meet for the discussion.

“The main thing is to negotiate on the resolutions from both sides. We will go step by step.

“The date of the EGM will be finalised after the meeting as we have to take into consideration various factors like the time and venue,” he said after opening the Selangor Consumer Day, organised by the state MCA here yesterday.

Tan, Chong and Loh submitted a total of 921 requisition forms to Wong on Friday requesting for an EGM.

On Aug 31, Ong directed an EGM to be convened to discuss issues relating to the sacking of Dr Chua, the Port Klang Free Zone project and other things.

Tan and Loh met with Wong on Sept 4 and all agreed to hold a single EGM with a single list of proposed resolutions to include views from those supporting Ong and Dr Chua.

Under the party constitution, the EGM requested by Dr Chua’s supporters under Article 30.3 will have to be convened within 30 days after the requisition forms had been handed over to Wong.

Wong is supposed to reply to Tan, Chong and Loh tomorrow - five days after the requests for EGM were made, giving the date, time and place the EGM is to be held and also to issue notice to the central delegates on the EGM.

In KUALA TERENGGANU, Dr Chua is advocating for a well-managed, fair and unbiased handling of the planned EGM.

“Fair play should prevail between both president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat’s and my camp, hence I hope the secretariat will ensure this.

“The delegates should be rest assured that our camp will abide to the party constitution (during the EGM),” he said before a close-door meeting with Terengganu MCA members yesterday.

Dr Chua said it was also the onus of party president to ensure that the EGM was conducted in a fair and square manner.

In BENTONG, vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said there was no split in the grassroots support for MCA despite the current differences between its top two leaders.

Liow said as far as he was concerned, all branch, division and state leaders still loved the party and stood solidly behind it.

“MCA needs to undergo changes and renewal so that it can emerge stronger and regain the confidence as well as trust of the people.

“I am confident that whatever problems and differences in the central leadership can be resolved in due course so that MCA can focus on regaining the support of the Chinese community at large,” he said after presenting aid to 120 senior citizens during a breaking of fast ceremony in Kampung Lengkong near here yesterday.