Chua writes again to ROS

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KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has written again to the Registrar of Societies (ROS) following its ruling that it had no power to decide on his status in the MCA.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hisham- muddin Tun Hussein, who disclosed this yesterday, said the ROS received the second letter from Dr Chua “with additional information.”

He said he did not know whether the second letter was an appeal from Dr Chua, who first wrote to the ROS to ask whether his reinstatement as an MCA member at the Oct 10 EGM meant that he was to be restored to his previous post of deputy president.

“I would need to get feedback from legal advisers from the Home Ministry before I can act on the letter. I have to study it before I can decide whether it gives me jurisdiction to act.

“The ROS Act is silent on an issue of this nature,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday.

Section 18 of the ROS Act provides an avenue for anyone unhappy with decisions made by the ROS to appeal to the Home Minister.

Hishammuddin said Dr Chua, in his initial letter, had requested the ROS to interpret the outcome of the EGM, concerning his position as the party’s deputy president.

The MCA central committee had overturned the presidential council’s decision to sack Dr Chua over the sex DVD scandal by suspending him for four years.

At the EGM, the majority of central delegates voted to reinstate Dr Chua’s membership in the party but rejected a resolution for him to be restored as deputy president.

This prompted Dr Chua to write to the ROS whether this meant that he should also be reinstated as deputy president.

Registrar Datuk Md Alias Kalil replied that he had no authority to determine this, adding that it was for the party to make the decision.

The minister said his personal view was that the MCA had announ- ced its greater unity plan as a solution without getting the ROS’ involved.

“There is no necessity for a third party to get involved. This depends on those involved and I am just carrying out my task,” he said, asking reporters to direct their questions on the issue to MCA leaders.

“I hold the cards (on appeals against ROS decisions), but it is not a very nice card to hold,” he quipped.

Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai was appointed MCA deputy president by the central committee on Oct 15.