A MCA central committee member has defended the party’s decision to go ahead with tomorrow’s annual general meeting (AGM), which will be boycotted by a number of top leaders.

Apart from deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek and vice-president Liow Tiong Lai - both of whom have questioned the validity of the AGM - Prime Minister Najib Razak has also expressed his intention not to attend the disputed meeting.

CC member Gan Sieu Ping, speaking in his capacity as party spokerperson, today described accusations of interference by MCA Youth chief Wee Ka Siong and Wanita chief Chew Mei Fun as “grossly unfair and untrue”.

Gan explained that the caretaker central committee does not have any authority to overrule the previous central committee’s decision, and as such cannot call off the AGM.

“The remaining central committee members have decided not to make any major decision, therefore we are following that which had already been decided at the previous CC meeting,” he clarifed.

Each postponement costs party RM1 mil

Furthermore,  Gan pointed out that the AGM, which was to be held last year, had already been postponed twice in the wake of internecine feuds within the party.

“Every time we postpone the AGM, it costs the party about RM1 million. Also, we cannot risk the party being deregistered,” he said.

Commenting on the MCA Youth and Wanita AGM fiasco today, Gan said that it was the internal affairs of the respective wings and the central committee will not interfere in the matter.

The executive council of both wings held emergency meetings yesterday to put off their AGMs, but the caretaker central committee - minus the 21 elected members who had resigned two days ago - resolved to proceed with the parent body's AGM and ordered both wings to do the same.

The MCA Youth AGM was eventually called off this morning when fewer than 100 delegates turned up, and they were not able to obtain a quoram.

Meanwhile, the Wanita AGM proceeded without its top leaders when 350 delegates went to the meeting.

The Chua and Liow factions are pressing for the AGM to be held in conjunction with party elections on March 28.