EXCLUSIVE MCA president Ong Tee Keat may have stolen a march on his expelled deputy Dr Chua Soi Lek, in attempting to call for an extraordinary general meeting as early as Sept 13, or after Hari Raya Aidilfitri on Sept 27.

Both dates are being bandied about, but secretary-general Wong Foon Meng is expected to fix the date at a meeting this afternoon at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

chua soi lek Chua’s supporters, meanwhile, are still collecting the required number of signatures from central delegates.

Puchong MCA division vice-chief Theng Book, a leader in Chua's camp, told Malaysiakini that the faction will not be able to submit its letter by today to call for its EGM.

Party sources said the usual venue for MCA general meetings - San Choon Hall in Wisma MCA - has been booked by Ong's camp for three continuous weekends.

This is being seen as allowing the secretary-general some leeway to pick the date, thereby preventing Chua's camp from using the venue for an EGM during the same period.

While the party has not confirmed this, Wong said he would send out the notice for the EGM to central delegates as soon as he confirms the date and venue.

wong foon meng Wong (left) , who is also Dewan Negara president, said this after the swearing-in of Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Idris Jala and Malacca MCA deputy secretary Lee Cheam Choon as senators this morning.

Wong said he has not receive any written document from either camp to date and that he would have to determine if there are similarities in their resolutions, before deciding whether or not to allow two EGMs to be held.

Chinese newspaper reports quoted Ong's political secretary Simon Lim as saying that the EGM could be called as early as Sept12.

NONE However, national news agency Bernama yesterday quoted party sources as saying that Ong is expected to call for EGM only after Hari Raya.

This is because the president has arranged to deliver a series of briefings to party leaders and members up to the middle of this month.

Calling an EGM requires notice of 21 days. However, Article 165 of the party constitution allows the president to shorten the period in an emergency.

Ng still silent

MCA vice-president Ng Yen Yen, meanwhile, has continued to refuse comment as where her support lies in the infighting that has dogged the party.

She is the only vice-president to have refused to state her stand openly. The other three - Kong Cho Ha, Liow Tiong Lai and Tan Kok Hong - have pledged support for Ong.

ng yen yen jean todt 26062009 01 Ng, who is also the Tourism Minister, was asked by reporters this morning for her stand, but declined comment. She was launching a programme at KLIA.

Although reporters followed her for about 500m, she smiled and refused to say a word. On being pressed, Ng suddenly said “1Malaysia” and left the premises.

She has also called off attendance at another event at 3pm today in Kelana Jaya.

Ng has been seen to be supportive of Chua - last year, she called for ‘forgiveness’ for him, following his involvement in the sex-tape scandal.