MCA vice-president Liow Tiong Lai's faction flexed its muscles today by filling up the Lee San Choon Hall with supporters at the MCA headquarters in Kuala Lumpur for a special briefing.

The briefing themed '1128, a renewed beginning', was meant to replace the extraordinary general meeting that was cancelled at the eleventh hour after an apparent consensus on holding fresh polls was reached by top party leaders.

mca liow faction briefing leaders on stage Though it was meant to be a briefing, a declaration was "passed" urging the party leadership to call for fresh polls within 60 days.

Liow claims he was touched at the sight of some 1,600 "central delegates" attending the meet, but independent counts puts the number was closer to 1,100.

It is uncertain how many of them are actual delegates as no official verification system was in place.

The first speaker was former secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan ( right ), who delivered a lengthy speech entitled "the way forward for the MCA".

With his text sounding more like an election campaign speech, speculation is rife that the meeting today was also an election launch pad for Liow's faction and their allies.

President turned into dart board

Two key players in Liow's camp, Wanita chief Chew Mei Fun and Youth chief Wee Ka Siong exploited the briefing as an opportunity to lash out at party president Ong Tee Keat.

mca liow faction briefing chew mei fan speaks Both condemned Ong for removing them from the presidential council in a bid to silence dissent and suggested that the party constitution be amended to restrict the president's power in this regard.

"We should amend Article 46 of the party constitution to stipulate that the presidential council must include four elected and two appointed vice-presidents.

"This will avoid a repeat of the party leadership (acting unilaterally) in cutting off the two party wings and becoming a ‘wingless' dictator," Chew ( right ) said.

Wee said the amendments must also ensure that public office bearers - in particular ministers and deputy ministers - be co-opted into the presidential council.

"Comrades, please stand up and not let the president do as he pleases," said Wee told the crowd.

Ong captains rudderless ship

mca liow faction briefing 281109 liow Liow, the final speaker, described MCA as a rudderless ship since the party crisis began and fresh polls was the only way out.

"MCA has lost its direction like a ship without a rudder. Can we continue to let the party go on like this? We must let MCA return to its original trajectory," he said.

He put the blame for this loss of direction squarely on president Ong Tee Keat's refusal to vacate his post after losing a no-confidence vote last month, despite promising to do so should he lose "by even one vote".

Ong narrowly lost the no-confidence vote during the Oct 10 EGM last month, but refused to quit because he was not legally obliged to do so, but was obliged to make use of his mandate.

The briefing ended after almost two hours.

Liow's faction vows to quit to force fresh polls