updated version

MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik today announced that the partys divisional elections have been temporarily postponed after securing some changes to the peace agenda proposed by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Team A leader Ling said his faction agreed to the peace agenda because sacrifices have to be made for the larger interest of the party and the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional led by Mahathir.

The decision means that all applications submitted this afternoon for nomination at divisional level will be retracted until further notice of a new date, the leader said.

However, Ling said the divisional elections, originally fixed for April 28, will be held before May 17 which he described as the constitutional deadline.

He added that the state elections scheduled for end of next month as well as the June 29 annual general assembly will nevertheless proceed as planned.

Clause changed

We are going to do everything possible to achieve the peace agenda. We expect to get the fullest support from all quarters, said Ling at a press conference at the MCA headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Present alongside the party chief were some of the key Team A leaders  secretary-general Dr Ting Chew Peh, vice-presidents Ong Ka Ting and Dr Fong Chan Onn, Wanita chief Dr Ng Yen Yen, MCA Wilayah Persekutuan chairperson Tan Chai Ho and central committee member Hon Choon Kim.

He said his faction had resolved to back the peace agenda after a lengthy discussion with Mahathir and his deputy, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, earlier this afternoon. However, he added that they did not sign any document.

Among the adjustments made to the peace agenda was changing a clause which initially said that elections at all levels will be called off indefinitely.

That was one of the misunderstandings because according to the party constitution, the party elections must go on... All these (problems) have been corrected, he said.

Ling went on to urge all party members to accept, understand, and support the decision, adding that party constitution will be adhered to in the process and that the peace agenda will be explained to the grassroots.

Umno-brokered deal

Last week, Mahathir, before leaving for an overseas visit, had proposed a peace deal to the feuding factions.

Team B, headed by party deputy president Lim Ah Lek, has since agreed to the deal and called off an extraordinary general meeting which was supposed to be convened yesterday to expose evidence of phantom members within the party.

The consent was given after Lim met a reconciliation committee chaired by Abdullah several times when the premier was away.

However, Lings faction held back from inking the agreement, claiming that it was different from the original proposal that they received. Ling had stated that they wanted to meet Mahathir first for clarification, who has returned from his overseas visit this morning.

At the press conference this evening, Ling also told the press that more details of the peace agreement will be presented to the central committee at a meeting tomorrow.

Asked if the details will be revealed in full to the committee, he replied, We will announce as much as wisdom dictates.

Succession of leadership

To another question on whether the succession of leadership will be discussed, Ling said the peace agenda will unfold in stages in due time.

When asked further, the veteran leader  who has been in the top post for 16 years  said the problem which obstructed both Team A and Team B from reaching consensus on the peace agenda was already history.

Ling also said an independent verification of the new membership list, which his opposing faction had been pushing for, was not included in the peace agenda.

It is believed that the peace agenda will likely focus on succession of leadership and delegation of key posts within MCA as this has been a notable convention within the second largest ruling party.

Meanwhile, earlier this afternoon, reporters were staking out the Prime Ministers office in Putrajaya after they learnt about the meeting between Mahathir and the Team A leaders.

Ling, accompanied by his two vice-presidents Ong and Fong, reached the premiers office at 3.45pm and left at 4.30pm. As the trio were leaving the premise, they waved and smiled at reporters from behind the tinted-windows of their car but did not stop for comments.

The three leaders then had a close-door meeting at Lings Transport Ministry office nearby. They later left at 5.10pm and headed to MCA headquarters to announce the postponement of party elections.