GEORGE TOWN: MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat has brushed off speculation that he was planning to hand over the reins to vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
Asked to comment on articles in several Chinese dailies and online news portals pointing to this possibility, Ong said he was unperturbed by the rumours.
“I’m in no position to comment on rumours and if rumour-mongering has become part of our life and our new favourite pastime, that is indeed something new to me.
“We, in MCA, have our agenda to follow. Today’s meeting with the community is part of our agenda and we are here to listen, not to respond to rumours and products of rumour mills,” he said after chairing a closed-door dialogue with state Chinese associations and guilds yesterday.
Over the last few days, several vernacular newspapers and online reports have floated the idea that Ong would step aside and hand over the party’s leadership to Liow to quell dissatisfaction over the sacking of party deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek on Aug 26.
Asked point blank if he was planning to resign, Ong said: “When I said they are rumours, you must understand what I said. Have I ever been quoted as saying that (I was resigning)?”
On whether an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) would be held to resolve the current party conflicts, Ong said the party was working quickly to solve all problems.
“Of course, people might be interested to know, but at the end of the day, we are here to resolve whatever problems within the party with our own wisdom, will and determination.
“We are prepared to solve these problems speedily based on the aspiration of our members,” he said.
Ong was on a visit to the state yesterday to talk with members of the Chinese community and address state MCA delegates as part of a nationwide tour to explain current party issues.
Before his arrival at Bayview Hotel Georgetown for his functions in the morning, a group of people, led by former Taman Tenang MCA branch chairman Ban Boon Leong, staged a protest outside the hotel calling for Ong’s resignation over allegations that he had borrowed RM10mil from Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing for party activities.
Commenting on the protest, Ong said: “In the past few days, there are more severe and serious things than that. You shouldn’t be taken aback by this.”
In Sitiawan, MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said he was confident that problems arising from the dismissal of Dr Chua could be resolved, reports Bernama.
He reminded party members, however, that they should face the problem in a mature manner and be with the party leadership in finding a speedy resolution.
He said this after attending the handing over of Ramadan donations to 26 mosques and 56 surau in the Lumut parliamentary constituency.
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