Sept 27 EGM puts Chua in a dilemma

The extraordinary general meeting (EGM) called by MCA president Ong Tee Keat on Sept 27 is a strategic move by president's camp to preempt his sacked deputy's attempt to call for one of his own.

The move puts Chua in a dilemma as it diffuses the swelling anti-Ong sentiment among Chua supporters.

MCA secretary-general Wong Foon Meng, a staunch supporter of Ong ( right ), said that the party will have just one EGM to avoid inconveniencing central delegates.

He said it will also ease the logistics burden and take pressure off human resources at the MCA headquarters.

The rival groups have been given until tomorrow to submit their respective EGM agendas, which would then be compiled by the party headquarters.

So why Sept 27? The party had fixed Oct 11 for its Annual General Meeting (AGM) - just two weeks after Sept 27.

This means the 2,400-odd central delegates would have to travel to Kuala Lumpur twice in three weeks to attend both meetings.

If Chua's supporters insist on calling for their own EGM after the first one Sept 27, they have to postpone it to a much later date, after Oct 11.

This is because delegates would be reluctant to travel to the capital again in such a short time, especially those fence-sitters, who are fed up of the infighting.

Upper hand

Party sources pointed out that the two-in-one EGM was Ong's trump card after Ong's camp realised more and more delegates were supportive of the idea of holding an EGM to reinstate Chua.

Ong, as the incumbent, controls the party administrative machinery which is crucial in deciding the EGM technical issues such as agendas and setting the dates for meetings.

"If we agree to the two-in-one EGM and submit our agenda, they have the strategic upper hand. We would have lost even before the game starts," said a Chua's supporter who declined to be named.

Chua ( left ), a veteran in internal power struggles, saw through the president's plan. Right after the announcement by Wong, Chua lambasted Ong for "blatant use of executive power".

He was quoted as saying "it was the grassroots who first started the ball rolling in petitioning for an EGM. Ong's move in calling another EGM is aimed at confusing the members".

Chua also said the reasons given by Wong to merge the EGMs were not justified. In his latest blog posting yesterday, Chua urged Ong to incorporate his agenda into the EGM "since we started the idea of the EGM first".

The next step

According to media reports, Chua's supporters will put on hold their initial plan to submit the delegates' EGM petition this week after Ong's preemptive move.

They were said to be observing the situation before taking the next step, including whether the central committee meeting on Sept 11 will appoint vice-president Liow Tiong Lai to replace Chua vacancy.

It is believed Chua, who had won the support of majority of central delegates, will not agree to the two-in-one EGM. He plans to carry on with his signature campaign for a second EGM.

Chua's camp's major challenge is to keep the momentum going for more than one month before they can find a suitable date to hold the EGM.

Ong, in the meantime, will utilise this period to dilute the support for Chua. He has already embarked on a nationwide roadshow to explain presidential council's decision to sack Chua.

Chua's decision to hold another EGM will be seen as a deliberate attempt to drag the dispute for his own political interests, and also not in line with Prime Minister Najib Razak's ( above ) call for a quick solution.

All eyes are now on Chua s to how he will counter the two-in-one EGM to regain higher ground.