Report if money offered for signatures, MCA delegates told

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PETALING JAYA: MCA central delegates who have been offered money to sign forms calling for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to be convened are urged to lodge reports with the authorities.

“This means the Police, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission or MCA itself,” said party secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng. “They should do this to let the other delegates know what is going on,” he said, adding that money should not be used to gain any form of support.

Wong was referring to reports in the Oriental Daily and China Press on delegates being offered money via SMS in exchange for their support.

Oriental Daily also reported that, besides money, there were other offers, too - if a delegate could get another to sign up as well, a group of five could go for an overseas trip. China Press reported that the cash offer was RM3,000 for a signature and up to RM10,000 for division chiefs. Central committee member Datuk Seri Tan Chai Ho, one of the co-ordinators for sacked deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek’s proposed EGM, denied money was paid for signatures.

“Nor were there overseas trips,” he said. “This is ridiculous. The delegates are matured enough to make their choice.”

MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat had, on Aug 31, called for an EGM - to sort out matters related to the Port Klang Free Zone project and the presidential council’s decision to expel Dr Chua. Supporters of Dr Chua were then trying to garner enough support to convene an EGM to reinstate the ousted deputy president.

They needed 800 signatures - a third of the 2,402 delegates - to fulfil the criteria for an EGM.

Wong said on Tuesday that the MCA would only have one EGM.

He defended the decision to set Sept 4 as the deadline for delegates to submit their requisition forms. “The deadline is set for co-ordination work and purely for administrative purpose.” he said.

Tan had questioned the rationale for the deadline. He declined to reveal the number of signatures collected so far.

Dr Chua, in his blog, claimed there were more than 800 signatures.