Some MCA divisions still keen on contests: Ting

comments     YS Tong     Published     Updated

About 10 MCA divisions are still insisting on challenging for posts at the forthcoming party elections despite the partys no-contest ruling, secretary-general Dr Ting Chew Peh said today.

He said the divisions with such problems are in Kedah, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Perak and Selangor

As such, we still have some work to do in these divisions, Ting told a press conference at the MCA headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

However, all the 166 divisions are expected to toe the line when they go for nominations on Friday.

We are confident that they will come out with one nominated list and that any vacancy will be filled through negotiations, he added.

Earlier, MCA deputy president Lim Ah Lek chaired the partys one-hour meeting of the special mediation committee in place of party president Dr Ling Liong Sik who was absent. The committee is tasked to deal with problems pertaining to party elections.

The no-contest decision was made in accordance with the peace agenda arbitrated by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad recently.

Ting said that the special committee will meet again on Friday morning before the divisions hand in their nominations starting at 4pm.

He added the special committee had been going around to persuade the grassroots to abide by the no-contest ruling so that the larger interests of the party would not be compromised.

In the event that an incumbent division chief had passed away or chosen to step down, the deputy will automatically take over the top post, he said.

Membership size

Asked how the extra delegates posts will be filled up, he said the divisions concerned will select the candidates from the branches under them based on the size of membership.

MCA, which had some 900,000 members in 1999, has 2,384 delegates now. However, the numbers will swell to 2,667 at the end of the forthcoming divisional elections.

The delegates will eventually attend the June 29 general assembly to choose their central leaders for a three-year term.

With the no-ruling contest, delegates will attend the party election this year and tick on ballots bearing only the names of incumbent office bearers and no challengers.

It is learnt that the bickering within embattled divisions  including Kampar in Perak, Kapar in Selangor, Muar in Johor, and Pokok Sena in Kedah  has grown beyond the so-called Team A and Team B allegiance.

Observers noted that even though the feuding factions had agreed to close ranks, their supporters who have prepared for the party polls over the past year find it difficult to do so.

Even some former allies who used to be in the same camp are said to be contemplating about challenging each other because of limited opportunities and posts.



Malaysiakini
news and views that matter


Sign In