Embattled MCA president Ong Tee Keat has sought to foreshadow the bid by a rival camp to hold an extraordinary general meeting by calling one of his own.

He today ordered the party’s secretary-general to organise an EGM within 30 days.

In making the announcement this morning, Ong said that he was invoking Article 30.1 of the party constitution to direct sec-gen Wong Foon Meng to hold an EGM.

NONE According to him, the EGM is to "let central delegates to decide" on recent controversies afflicting the party.

Ong is facing rebellion from a faction aligned to ousted MCA deputy chief Chua Soi Lek, who was expelled from the party last week.

His supporters have launched a nationwide campaign to get enough signatures for an EGM to reinstate Chua.

Under the party constitution, an EGM can be called in three ways - requisition by one third of the delegates, directive from the party president, or requisition by one-third of the party's central committee members.

Wong, when contacted by Bernama , confirmed that he had received the directive from Ong to convene an EGM and that he was in the process of finalising the details.

"We are still fixing the date, time and venue of the EGM. I hope we can fix all these later today and the notice can be issued tomorrow," he said.

The agenda of the EGM has not been fixed yet, but it is learnt that high on the list is the seeking of the delegates endorsement of the presidential council's decision to sack Chua as well as a vote of confidence for Ong on his leadership.

Ong’s move a ‘kamakaze attack’

Ong’s announcement confirm speculations in the Chinese press over the past few days that since Chua’s camp is receiving strong support from the grassroots, the party boss has no choice but to call another and earlier EGM to counter his opponent.

Ong’s EGM is likely to ask the delegates to back the current leadership decision to sack Chua.

mca 60th anniversary chua soi lek and ong tee keat 030309 04 Should it be defeated, all the 19 presidential council members will have to resign and this will cause a catastrophic leadership vacuum in Barisan Nasional’s second biggest component party.

Some political analysts described such a counter move from Ong as a ‘kamikaze attack’ as Chua’s faction has gained sizable support from key veteran leaders who still hold much influence among the party grassroots.

If Ong manage to get the endorsement from the delegates, he will be able to deal a huge blow to Chua and undermine the significance of Chua’s EGM.

However if it fails, it will spell the end of Ong’s tenure as MCA president.

‘Put party above everything else’

In a statement which appeared in his blog late this afternoon, Ong stressed that holding an EGM was a serious matter.

“I have decided to call for one as the country celebrates its Merdeka celebrations to allow members to reflect on where MCA should head for next.

“The EGM is also to allow members to deliver a verdict on the decisions made by the MCA leadership - whether on its renewal and rejuvenation efforts, on disciplinary cases or in the handling of the Port Klang Free Zone issue.”

Ong hopes that the EGM would “quell speculations, end uncertainties and put to rest elements that will split MCA”.

“It is my belief that with sufficient explanation and briefings, members will make the right choice on what's best, not for Tee Keat, but for the party. I have faith that at the end of the day, we will be able to see past fiery emotions and will put the party above everything else.”

He said he was prepared to accept whatever verdict the EGM delivers.

Chua supporters to wait for EGM agenda

Meanwhile, Chua said that his supporters would press on with their effort to get support from MCA delegates to convene their own EGM.

Chua met with MCA members from Kedah and Penang today - his first public function after he was expelled from the party last week.

He told Bernama that he would wait for the party to set the agenda before deciding whether his supporters should participate in the EGM called by the party president.

"We don't know what the agenda is. Wait until they have cleared the agenda. If it's good for party, then we will let the delegates to decide," he said.

However, he criticised Ong for sending a "wrong signal and confusing the party grassroots" by calling the EGM.

"When I was sacked, their supporters criticised me and my supporters for pushing for an EGM, saying that my supporters' efforts will divide the party. Now, less than five days later, he himself calls for an EGM. No consistency," he said.

Chua claimed that Ong has been using the PKFZ issue to create what he terms as "individual heroism" when actually the decision to make public the PKFZ audit report was a cabinet decision.

Like PPP, there could be two EGMs

Party observers said there were two possibilities after this: Chua's supporters might participate in the EGM called by the president or call for another EGM on their own if they were unsatisfied with the agenda set by the party secretary-general.

"If they participate, then we would only see one EGM. If they have two EGMs, then we would see the repeat of what happened in the PPP recently," he said.

Party insiders said the EGM was likely to be held after Hari Raya Aidilfitri and that the possible date could be Sept 27 as the party president has arranged a series of briefing to party leaders, delegates and members until the middle of next month.

The EGM would be the third since the party held the "infamous" EGM on June 24, 2001 to endorse the purchase of Nanyang Press Holdings by the party's investment arm, Huaren Holdings.

The party had held an EGM on May 27, 2007 to amend the party constitution to provide for the postponement of party elections before last year's general election and on Nov 19, 2004 to endorse an amendment to the party constitution that limits to 2,400 the number of central delegates to the general assembly.