MCA plunged back into crisis again today with both the feuding factions telling their own side of stories at the EGM or even before it.

He said Team Bs decision to cancel the EGM was because they had yesterday signed a memorandum of peace which would in return see the postponement of the controversial party elections until a date to be specified.

This was done after Team B met Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, chairperson of the reconciliation committee, for several times, he added.

Team A led by party president Dr Ling Liong Sik had insisted that the party elections will go on schedule in line with the wishes of the grassroots while Team B had sought for a postponement as they believed that the membership list was tainted with dubious members.

However, when asked, Lim declined to state whether Team A led by his political foe Ling had also signed the memorandum, We can only speak for ourselves. You [reporters] have got to ask him.

He told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon that the decision to sign the memorandum was in accordance with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamads framework of resolution to resolve the split within the party.

The advice of the PM, who is also chairman of Barisan Nasional, was driven by the desire for unity which is the true spirit of BN, he said.

He added the advice was based on just and equitable terms which include calling off the EGM and the party elections from divisional level onwards — meaning the scheduled division and state meetings as well as the annual general assembly will proceed as usual without elections.

Going against PMs advice

Lim went on to warn that since Team B had shown their commitment to peace and unity, any division that proceeds with next weeks nomination is to go against the PMs advice for unity.

Asked if the cancellation of the EGM would cause backlash to the embattled Team B supporters, he said they had been informed of the decision and had accepted it.

To another question on whether members aligned to Team B would take part in the nomination, he replied, We told them what happened. They will know what to do.

The leader also refused to state what is their next move regarding the allegation about phantom members within the party which was highlighted in recent months.

Earlier this week, malaysiakini reported that Mahathir, before leaving for official visits overseas, mandated his deputy Abdullah to chair a five-member committee to bring both Team A and Team B to a roundtable in order to achieve the premiers agenda for peace and stability.

The committee comprises pro-Mahathir Chinese entrepreneurs Lee Kim Yew and Lim Kok Wing, together with two close aides of the premier.

Team A was represented by Ling and two vice-presidents Ong Ka Ting and Dr Fong Chan Onn while Team B was represented by Lim and the other two vice-presidents Chua Jui Meng and Chan Kong Choy.

To ensure that the reconciliation could go on smoothly, a blanket ban was imposed by the Prime Ministers Department on major local newspapers and broadcast stations regarding MCA coverage, in line with the gag order that Mahathir placed on all MCA leaders since last Sunday.

Mahathir is now in Libya and is expected to return on Sunday after his visit to Bahrain.

On as scheduled

However, at another press conference later at the MCA headquarters, party secretary-general Dr Ting Chew Peh described Lims announcement — the cancellation of the EGM and Mahathirs advice to put off party elections — as misleading.

It is to create confusion among the party members, his announcement did not represent the MCA stand, said Ting who is aligned to Team A.

He reiterated that the party elections at all levels will go on schedule and urged all divisions to conduct their nominations on next Monday.

He explained that the dates of the elections — divisional level at end of this month, state next month, and the annual general assembly in June — were approved by the party central committee and could not be simply overruled by anyone.

When asked, he said the EGM was already declared unconstitutional last week when he announced that the minimum requirement for one-third of the delegates was not fulfilled after 49 out of the initial 810 delegates opted for withdrawal.

Hence, Team B was talking about cancelling the EGM because it wanted to create an impression to the party members as if they were ready to compromise by not convening the EGM, he added.

On Team Bs claim that they had signed a peace agenda to call off the EGM and to postpone the party elections, Ting said he was not in the position to comment on the matter as he was not involved directly in the reconciliation talk.

MCA, the second largest ruling party in the country which claims over one million Chinese Malaysian members, was openly split into two factions following the partys takeover of two Chinese dailies last May.

The party will conduct its triennial elections for central leaders come June. Lim had hinted that a candidate from his camp will be challenging incumbent president Ling for the top post.