Rival sides agree on one EGM

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KUALA LUMPUR: There will be only one extraordinary general meeting (EGM) for MCA as the rival camps have agreed to a single list of proposed resolutions.

“We are working towards that,” MCA secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng said at 7pm yesterday after meeting with Datuk Seri Tan Chai Ho and Loh Seng Kok, who were representing sacked deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, at the MCA secretariat at Wisma MCA.

Wong said both sides agreed to a merged EGM.

While supporters of Chua were collecting 800 signatures to call for an EGM, party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat had pre-empted him on Aug 31 by calling for one to be held.

Ong: Had on Aug 31 called for an EGM to be held.

“Both parties will discuss the proposed resolutions on another date to be fixed,” said Wong.

“In light of the latest developments, I will discuss with the president the proposal to have a single EGM which incorporates the views of both sides on the drafting of the resolutions,” he added.

Wong was accompanied by treasurer-general Tan Sri Tee Hock Seng, MCA legal bureau chief Datuk Leong Tang Chong and MCA headquarters chief administrative director Lim Chin Hai during the meeting.

At 4.15pm, Tan and Loh left the discussion without tabling the requisition and signatures, saying that another date would be fixed for further discussion as Ong did not submit his agenda for the EGM.

They turned up for the meeting as yesterday was the deadline for the requisition for an EGM by Chua’s supporters.

Wong, however, said he had received a copy of Ong’s agenda and nothing from Tan and Loh.

“There was no submission of requisition for an EGM pursuant to Article 30.3 of the party constitution.

“I am not sure whether they have the required number of central delegates as they have not provided the names and signatures of the requisitionists or details of the proposed resolutions,” Wong added.

Wong also said he received a lot of complaints from the grassroots that having two EGMs and one AGM within a short period of time would be inconvenient and be a burden to the delegates.

“I have also received complaints about money politics, which is very unhealthy,” he said.

Tan, who admitted he was the chief coordinator of the central delegates’ EGM action committee, said the collection of signatures by Chua’s supporters to call for an EGM was ongoing although 800 signatures had been collected.

On another claim that there were central delegates who were forced to sign the forms, Tan said they had signed before commissioners for oath or lawyers and there was no question of pressure.

In Klang, Ong met more than 100 Kota Raja MCA members and delegates in Taman Sentosa to brief them about current issues involving the party and himself.