The MCA disciplinary board made a belated decision to expel Dr Chua Soi Lek (CSL) for damaging the image of MCA, after a sex DVD scandal involving Chua resurfaced. It must be noted that no disciplinary action had been instituted against Chua before this.

The MCA presidential council endorsed the disciplinary board’s decision and sacked CSL.

CSL deems this punishment unfair. He maintains that he wants to ‘die as an MCA member’. His supporters requisitioned for an EGM.

MCA President Ong Tee Kiat (OTK) announced his own EGM, to let the party members decide on MCA’s future. (Later, both sides agreed to have only one EGM, after CSL’s resolutions were accepted in total.

On Aug 26, after the date for the EGM had been set, the MCA central committee (CC), overturned the presidetial council’s decision to expel CSL and instead, revised it to a ‘suspension of four years’.

Now, who is the highest ‘authority’ in the MCA hierarchical set-up of ‘check and balance’? According to Dr Ting Chew Peh, (a former MCA secretary-general), the central delegates at the EGM will supercede decisions made by the presidential council and the central committeee. As such, decisions made at the EGM will overrule all decisions made earlier regarding CSL.

So what are the decisions to be made at the EGM? The resolutions to be tabled at the EGM are to:

a. Move a motion of no-confidence against party president Ong Tee Keat.

b. Declare as null the decision of the presidential council to accept the recommendation by the disciplinary board to expel deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek.

c. Reinstate CSL as the deputy president.

d. Revoke any appointment made before the EGM, including the appointment of deputy president, and

e. Dismiss all possible disciplinary actions and sentences against those who requisitioned the EGM.

Personally, I feel some of the resolutions are flawed.

a. Resolution ‘C’ is to reinstate CSL as deputy president. But resolution ‘D’ revokes any appointment made before the EGM, including the post of deputy president. This means that even if CSL is reinstated as deputy president, his post will be revoked (nullified) by resolution ‘D’. So what is the purpose of having these resolutions?

b. Resolution ‘B’ is in fact, redundant (as the EGM’s decisions supercede all previous decisions).

c. If resolution ‘A’ is carried, ie, a vote of no-confidence is passed on OTK, then MCA will be ‘headless’. OTK and all members of the central committee and presidential council will have to resign. MCA will be ‘persona non grata.’

MCA will have to have fresh elections for a new president and new members of the central committee (CC) and the presidential council. Now comes the next question - who will elect these new batch of members?

Surely, it can’t be the CC as it doesn’t exist anymore, since all members have resigned ! It will have to go back to the grassroots members.

The delegates to the MCA’s triple-10 EGM (on the tenth day of the tenth month at 10 am) will have to weigh the pros and cons carefully and wisely as their decision will not only affect the future of MCA but also the equation of the political set-up in the country.

I’m apolitical about MCA but there are certain issues which impact on the nation – and this is where I put in my two cents worth. My observation should not be construed as to influence the outcome of the EGM.

i. The PKFZ scandal has not only generated local interest but also international curiosity as well. But has anyone heard of any substantial support from individuals or members of the ruling political parties? Apart from the PM and Lim Kit Siang (opposition DAP), the sound of silence is deafening. Why? It is obvious that there is more to the PKFZ scandal than meets the eye.

There are definitely more individuals and political intrigue involved than employing CEOs and managers who do not know how to keep income and expenditure accounts, balance sheets and inventories of a public project which runs into billions.

The PKFZ scandal (according to some political observers), may be just the tip of an iceberg or a trigger to another political tsunami in the run-up to the next GE-13.

ii. To be fair, OTK who puts his job and life on the line (he has received death threats) should not be left to fight corruption on his own. He deserves all the support he can get in his fight for justice, in his attempt to recover the people’s money, including his RM500 million suit against the PKFZ project managers. He has vowed to turn over the RM500 million compensation (if he wins) to charity.

There are a lot of people out there wanting to silence this recalcitrant young Turk for good. (This accounts for the numbed silence and lack of support for his actions).

As it is now, the MCA quagmire is further complicated by a ‘fourth’ force, that of punters betting on the outcome of the EGM. This is bad, especially when betting syndicates get involved.

Gambling may affect the results of the EGM, The triple-10 EGM has now turned into a high stakes game of political poker!

The future of MCA lies in the hands of delegates at the EGM. Vote wisely and let’s hope you have a winning hand. Best of luck, MCA!