KUALA LUMPUR:  The MCA central committee (CC) maintained that the party constitution compels its wings, Youth and Wanita, to proceed with their respective annual general meetings - despite protests from the latter.

MCA secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng announced that the party CC members today met and unanimously elected the secretary-general to convene an extraordinary general meeting of the MCA general assembly to hold a fresh election to elect new CC members.

The EGM has been fixed for March 28.

KUALA LUMPUR: Regarded as a renegade by many in MCA, its vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai says he is not power crazy in wanting fresh party elections.

“It was never my personal wish from the beginning. All I am doing is reflecting the wishes of party members who think that the episode can only come to an acceptable closure through fresh polls,” said the Health Minister.

KUALA LUMPUR: Several MCA leaders have 'pooh-poohed' the claim by party vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai (pic) that he was a victim of political and character assassination from within the party.

Party Central Committee member Datuk Chong Jit Chew said he did not think there were quarters in the party out to get Liow.

KUALA LUMPUR: Thirteen MCA central committee members submitted their resignation letters this morning at Parliament House.

It is learnt that a group of the CC members, led by party vice-presidents Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and Tan Kok Hong, had handed in their resignation letters to party secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng at his office in Parliament this morning.

KUALA LUMPUR: The MCA is likely to hold fresh party polls at the end of March, given that the feuding factions are now coming to terms to end the animosity.

The decision on the polls is expected to be made at the party's election committee meeting set for tomorrow (Monday). The committee was formed last week and is headed by MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek.

Sources said that the earlier the party polls are held, the better it is for the party - as the new leadership picked by delegates could then pursue the party's objectives without any hindrance.

PETALING JAYA: MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek chaired the party's central commitee (CC) meeting today that saw the feuding factions in the party halting on their verbal war.

Party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat had called in sick at the eleventh hour, giving the chance to Dr Chua to 'use his diplomacy to stabilise the party.'

A source said it would be quite difficult for Ong, who is the target for vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai's resentment, to satisfy the faction if he chaired the meeting.

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat has dismissed the 1128 Declaration mooted yesterday by supporters of MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai in wanting fresh party polls to be held within 60 days.

Ong said any call for a fresh election must follow the party's constitution and be referred to MCA's central committee (CC).

"What is important is the constitutional provisions must be followed," he told reporters after attending an Aidiladha celebration in his parliamentary constituency of Pandan here today.

WANITA MCA secretary general Senator Heng Seai Kie and six Wanita Central Committee members met party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat yesterday to discuss the position of Wanita chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei
Fun in the Presidential Council (PC).

Heng, who is also the party’s Information and Communications Bureau chief, said Ong had listened to the voice of Wanita MCA on the position of Chew who was dropped from the PC.

THE move by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to meet the warring factions in efforts to resolve the worsening MCA crisis was lauded by other component parties of Barisan Nasional (BN).

Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon was confident that with Najib, who is also BN chairman, the MCA crisis will be over soon.