MCA vice-president Liow Tiong Lai and his 12 supporters in the central committee (CC) submitted their resignation letters this morning to pave the way for fresh polls.

liow tiong lai and faction resign 151209 03 mca sec gen wong foo meng and liow 01 Speaking to reporters after handing his letter to party secretary-general Wong Foon Meng (left in photo) , Liow said it is important for fresh polls to be held as soon as possible to end the in-fighting.

"MCA is running out of time and it is our responsibility to solve the crisis. We leave our predicament in the hands of the delegates,' he said.

"It (the election) has to be done fast to return the credibility and dignity of MCA... (holding) an election is the best way to solve the problems...prolonging the matter will have a negative effect on the party.”

The submission of undated resignation letters is in accordance with Article 41 of the party constitution. These will only take effect when two-thirds of the powerful CC resign.

liow tiong lai and faction resign 151209 03 The 13 are Liow, Tan Kok Hong, Lee Wei Kiat, Hou Kok Chung, Yu Chok Tow, Wong Nai Chee, Wee Jeck Seng, Yeow Chai Thiam, Hoh Khai Mun, Liew Yuen Keong, Wong Mook Leong, Khoo Keok Hai and Wong Siong Hwee.

Liow needs another eight of the remaining 18 elected CC members to quit, in order to automatically trigger a fresh leadership election.

The party constitution stipulates that at least 21 CC members must resign before fresh polls can be held. There are 31 elected CC members in all.

However, the move by the 13 will intensify pressure on the remaining CC members to follow suit.

They have until Dec 25 to reveal their decision under a condition set by the party's special committee on fresh polls.

chua soi lek 020108 All eyes will be on deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek (left) and his faction. Chua had previously indicated at a press conference that he would resign.

The Chua faction is to believed to have the support of at least five elected CC members. Even if they resign, Liow will still be three short of the magic number to force new polls.

Once the required number of resignations is received, fresh elections will have to be held within 30 days - or by Jan 25.

“We were picked by the delegates and they will decide the future of MCA. As central committee members, we place our future in their hands. We are confident that, with the fresh elections, we can solve the crisis quickly and can have unity within the party,” said Liow.

He said the resignations are not due to pressure from others but a “collective agreement” among the 12 CC members who are in his camp.

It is learnt that some members of his faction had been getting restless about the protracted squabble, with a few wanting to resign even if the rest refused to do so.

‘Most serious crisis’

Asked if the resignation will affect his cabinet post as health minister, Liow stressed that this is a separate issue and that it is in the hands of Barisan Nasional head and premier Najib Abdul Razak.

liow tiong lai and faction resign 151209 05 “I am focusing on my party problem and I want to resolve it,” Liow said, adding that the premier will be informed about the resignations later.

Najib is currently in Copenhagen, leading the Malaysian delegation to the global climate change conference.

Senior CC member Wong Mook Leong, who was at Liow’s press conference, explained that MCA has had it share of troubles in the past, but none has been as grave as the current crisis.

Wong, a CC member for 32 years, said he has no regrets about handing in his resignation letter, although this is the first time he is resigning from any party post.

“I believe that, if the course is right, people will support it. I’m confident there will be fresh elections,” he said, appearing bullish that eight more members will resign soon.

MCA has been riddled by strife at the top, with Liow taking on his former mentor and party president Ong Tee Keat and urging the latter to step down for the sake of the party.

Last Sunday, Najib had backed calls for fresh party elections, although some CC members are hesitant about resigning.

He reiterated that the principle of having fresh elections has been accepted by the three feuding leaders and that it was only left to decide the timing.