MCA leaders fully back Ong

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KUALA LUMPUR: MCA leaders have openly pledged their full backing for party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.

“We will be giving our full support (to the president),” party secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng told a press conference at Wisma MCA here yesterday.

Party central committee members, who were present, also pledged their support.

Among those were MCA vice-presidents Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha and Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong and Wanita chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun.

Showing support: Wong giving a press conference at Wisma MCA, Kuala Lumpur, yesterday. With him are (seated, from left) Dr Wee, Kong and Liow, and other MCA leaders.

Wong said the disciplinary action taken against suspended deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek was a collective decision by the party leadership in accordance with the party constitution, and was made in a democratic manner.

“The decision was not based solely on the president’s prerogative,” said Wong, who refuted the advertisements placed by Dr Chua’s camp in major Chinese newspapers on Thursday.

Dr Chua, he said, had been unwilling to co-operate and had gone against the decision of the president and the central committee on many occasions.

“Dr Chua has embarrassed the party leadership,” Wong said.

He added that it was a false accusation that Ong’s failure to co-operate with Dr Chua led to the party conflict.

“Not only did Dr Chua fail to show his sincerity and willingness to co-operate with Ong, he has also issued statements that tarnished the party’s image.

“It has caused the perception that the party is in chaos,” he said, adding that Dr Chua had also failed to co-operate with the party, besides going against efforts for party reforms.

Wong stressed that MCA, under the leadership of Ong, had fostered a good and close relationship with the Chinese guilds and associations.

On the Port Klang Free Zone scandal, Wong said Ong, who is the Transport Minister, had conducted investigations and disclosed the findings on the alleged wrongdoings and fraud to the public.

Liow urged the central delegates to vote for the interests of the party and the community.

“It is a disciplinary issue of a person but now it has affected the whole party.

“The decision made by the central delegates should take into consideration the feeling of the community as well as how the party can win back the confidence and support of the Chinese,” Liow said.

Former MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan and former vice president Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai, meanwhile, denied that they were involved in the so-called “third force”.

Ka Chuan said he knew nothing about the third force and had had no contact with the central committee leader who claimed to be the third force spokesman.

They were speaking to reporters when registering for the EGM at Wisma MCA yesterday.