One EGM, five motions

KUALA LUMPUR: There will be only one EGM with five resolutions to re solve the problems faced by the MCA.

This was the agreement reached by the two sides in the party after a five-hour meeting which they said was “conducted amicably”.

The EGM will be held by Oct 11 as the party secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng had only received the requisition for the meeting on Friday. Under the party constitution, he has 30 days to call for the EGM upon receiving the notice.

Yesterday’s meeting also decided that the five proposed resolutions submitted by the supporters of sacked deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek would be the only ones to be tabled at the EGM.

Party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, commenting on the decision in his blog, said he ordered his representatives to accept the other side’s resolutions because it was “imperative to have one EGM.”

“As the party president, I do not want to see the party further divided. It is my wish that MCA members close ranks as swiftly as possible and continue with its reform agenda in the run-up to the 13th general election,” Ong added.

Wong said the meeting also agreed that he would fix the date and issue a notice of the EGM on Wednesday.

He added that the meeting was conducted amicably and whatever decisions made were in the best interest of the party.

“President Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat has agreed to adopt in toto the five motions proposed by the requisitionists,’’ said Wong at a press conference held at Wisma MCA at 8.30 pm.

The proposed resolutions submitted by Dr Chua’s supporters are:

> That the members of the general assembly have no confidence in the leadership of president Ong;

> That the presidential council’s decision on Aug 26 in accepting the recommendation of the disciplinary board and the subsequent decision of the central committee (if any) to expel or suspend Dr Chua is annulled;

> Dr Chua be rightfully restored as deputy president of MCA;

> The appointment made by the central committee, including that of the deputy president of MCA, be revoked; and

> There shall be no disciplinary action taken against any or all of the requisitionists by the disciplinary board, the central committee or the presidential council.

Central delegates would vote on each of the proposed resolutions during the EGM, which Dr Chua would not be allowed to attend, Wong said.

“In the best interest of the party, our meeting also unanimously agreed that debates and speeches would be excluded during the EGM.

“Each side agreed to appoint one chief scrutineer and eight scrutineers,” he said.

The EGM would be chaired by speaker Datuk Yik Phooi Hong, while Hoo Seong Chang and Datuk Paduka Lee Pit Chern would be the deputy speakers.

Central committee member Datuk Seri Tan Chai Ho, who is leading Dr Chua’s faction, thanked Wong for conducting the fruitful meeting in a fair manner while Ong’s representative and another central committee member, Gan Ping Sieu, described the decisions as a win-win situation.

Gan said Ong was prepared to face the central delegates during the EGM in a bid to solve the matter through the internal means.

“The president respects the central delegates’ wishes and decided not to change the five proposed resolutions.

“The president believes that the central delegates will be rational in casting their vote with the party’s interest topmost in their minds,” Gan said.

Besides Gan, MCA Youth secretary-general Datuk Chai Kim Sen and Ong’s political secretary Simon Lim also represented the party president.

Tan came with central committee members Datuk Chong Itt Chew and Loh Seng Kok, who represented Dr Chua at the meeting.