MCA secretary-general Wong Foon Meng today urged party members who are asking for an EGM to be held, to be rational and comply with the provisions of the party constitution.

Expressing his regret over the statement made by central committee member Tan Chai Ho yesterday, Wong also strongly urged party members to avoid making baseless allegations and statements to ensure that the EGM could be conducted smoothly.

"I wish to add that I am also saddened by the criticisms made by Tan Chai Ho in which he was reported to have alleged that my actions did not reflect my words," he said in a statement today.

Tan, is one of the chief coordinators for a committee formed for supporters of sacked MCA deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek. The committee yesterday gave party president Ong Tee Keat three days to propose a date for a meeting to discuss matters on the party EGM.

If this fails, the committee will submit a petition to Wong compelling him as the secretary-general to call for another EGM.

On this, Wong said, according to Article 30.3 and 31 of the party constitution, as long as Tan submitted a requisition to convene and EGM together with one-third of the delegates, he would proceed with the next course of action in accordance with the party constitution and would also contact the three requisitionists calling for the EGM.

"Thus, before Tan submits his requisition calling for an EGM, it is inappropriate for him to express such a warning statement as it is not in keeping with the party constitution," he said.

Will try for a merged EGM

Wong also clarified that he never mentioned during the meeting with Tan and another group chief coordinator Loh Seng Kok that he had not received the resolutions from the president.

"Thus, the allegation that my actions do not reflect my words should not arise," he said to Tan's challenge for him to state the exact time he received Ong's requisition as the latter claimed that Wong had earlier in the meeting said that he had yet to receive the party president's agenda.

Tan and Loh left the meeting with the party officials, including Wong, yesterday without tabling the requisition and the required 800 signatures of the central delegates to call for an EGM, claiming that they refused to do so because Ong did not summit his agenda for the EGM.

Hours later Wong claimed he had received a copy of Ong's agenda, but nothing from Tan and Loh.

However, Wong in the statement reiterated that he would try his best to hold a merged EGM to prevent too many meetings being held as it would result in the central delegates being inconvenienced by having to come to the MCA headquarters on different days.

Holding more than one EGM would also hurt the image of the party, he added.

- Bernama