ANALYSIS Barely four months after the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) in October last year, MCA is expected to hold a similar event on Feb 23, in conjunction with the party’s 65th anniversary.

But this time around, rumour has it that the new party leadership plans to offer a “three-in-one package” by combining three different levels of government positions – federal, state and local posts - in one single resolution for the delegates to vote on.

This is to avoid a repetition of the political ramifications birthed by the Oct 20 EGM, when the  central delegates decided to accept positions at the state and local levels but rejected the minister and deputy minister posts by a mere 10-vote difference.

The objective of  this EGM is also apparent - to enhance the party leadership’ s chance to be in the government.

According to the Chinese newspaper Oriental Daily , the leadership had started collecting signatures of central delegates to call for an EGM, to review the cabinet posts rejection resolution.

Based on an anonymous letter circulated among the delegates recently, the planned EGM's sole purpose was to accept government posts at all levels, once and for all.

In other words, the prudently-crafted draft this time has included three different levels of government positions into one resolution, forcing on the delegates the either “take all or reject all” decision.

Delay local council appointments

Despite the unanimous acceptance of delegates to allow party members to hold government posts at state and local levels in the last EGM, MCA’s newly-elected central leadership had reportedly instructed the delay of party’s local council appointments to March 1 in several states.

Although the MCA's reason was that the appointment list was not  ready, many quarters wondered whether this was actually deliberate act designed for the Feb 23 EGM.

However, such  a strategy is still risky for newly minted MCA president Liow Tiong Lai ( centre in photo ).

If the central delegates do eventually throw out the resolution, rejecting all positions, do those appointed earlier resign, resulting in the Chinese-based party being left in the cold?

On top of that, Liow should be wary of possible sabotage by his predecessor Chua Soi Lek, who had openly chided the former for allegedly failing to honour two contracts between them they had inked.

Last month, Chua showed reporters the contracts stipulating that Liow appoint Chua’s men as secretary-general, MCA heads in three states, co-opt three individuals into the central committee and appoint Chua as a board member of a government-linked company (GLC), should he be returned as party president.

Cabinet reshuffle , a must for MCA

Nonetheless, it is crucial for the party leaders to justify whether MCA would get the back the four ministerial posts as prior to the May 5 general election, or fill the only reserved  for MCA transport minister’s post by Najib, as the central delegates would vote based on the decision-making powers granted to the largest Chinese-based party.

In fact, the situation was already a messy tangle for the MCA at state and local levels, especially when some states like Pahang had declared no state executive posts had been reserved for the party even after the EGM.

Unless Najib decides to reshuffle the cabinet, the chance for MCA to vie for more than one ministerial post is extremely slim.

Liow’s leadership will be at stake if he fails to do so, as there is no way for a party with seven elected MPs dubbed as “number two” in the BN to get fewer posts compared with the MIC having only four MPs, who are ministers and deputy ministers to make any headway with the community.

With the party facing PKR’s de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim in the March 23 Kajang by-election, joining the cabinet will serve as one  of its weapons to convince the Chinese community.

All in all, Liow, two months in office, will have to consolidate his influence within the party should the proposed resolution get voted in, or his rivals from other factions would initiated new rounds of infighting as a “reward” for his failure.

KOW KWAN YEE is a member of the Malaysiakini team.