On one very rare occasion, both MCA rival factions today sat down and agreed on something.

They sorted out details of the Oct 10 EGM, and agreed to ban all banners and fliers inside the MCA building during the final showdown.

mca pre-egam meeting 300909 02 MCA secretary-general Wong Foon Meng (far left) announced this at a press conference after a meeting of representatives from both factions to iron out procedures during the EGM.

EGM chairperson Yik Phooi Hong and representatives from both camps, one from MCA president Ong Tee Keat and one from deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek, attended the meeting and press conference.

Central Committee member Gan Ping Sieu and MCA Youth secretary-general Chai Kim Sen acted on behalf of the Ong camp, and three Central Committee members Tan Chai Ho, Loh Seng Kok and Chong Itt Chew represented the Chua faction.

Wong explained that for the sake of a smooth EGM and to avoid any conflicts, they have agreed to ban lobbying during the EGM and the planned dinner for the central delegates.

"During the dinner on Oct 9 and EGM on Oct 10, we forbid anyone from hanging banners and distributing fliers within the confines of the MCA building."

But he added, newspapers were not on the list of banned items.

Wong also announced that all five resolutions will be voted on one by one separately during the EGM.

‘Third force not a force'

As for the widely speculated ‘third force' that wants both leaders to step down, Chua's supporters say they are dismissing it as conjecture.

When asked to comment, Chua's ‘EGM commander-in-chief' Tan Chai Ho responded with another question "Does it really exist?"

tan chai ho pc 200809 01 Tan (right), with confidence, told reporters at the same news conference that the so called "third force was hardly there".

"What I heard now is that central delegates will support here or there (Ong or Chua). As for a ‘third force', I don't think it exists."

Since the open rivalry between Ong and Chua, a rumour has made the rounds that some MCA leaders prefer both Ong and Chua to step down and initiate a succession with vice-presidents Liow Tiong Lai and Tan Kok Hong to fill the vacancies.

Former party secretary-general Ting Chew Peh had expressed this view during a recent interview.