The MCA leadership came out in full force today, hitting out at those responsible for the disparaging allegations against party president Ong Tee Keat in advertisements carried by major Chinese dailies yesterday.

NONE The advertisements believed to be paid for by parties friendly to ex-MCA deputy president Chua Soi Lek, were about Chua's 3R EGM manifesto .

They outlined why the MCA needs to 'Reject' its president Ong, 'Reunite' with Chua and 'Rejuvenate' the party as the voice of the Chinese community.

The MCA leadership, all sporting the '1MCA-1Team' badges in a show of solidarity were led by vice president Liow Tiong Lai, while secretary-general Wong Foon Meng ( above ) read their statement at the MCA headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Winnowing facts from fiction

Yesterday, Ong launched his '1MCA-1Team' report card on the achievements of the party under his year-old leadership. However, he stressed that '1MCA-1Team' is not a manifesto.

"We are here to address the accusations in the advertisements that appeared in yesterday's Chinese papers," said Wong.

liow tiong lai h1n1 flu parliament pc 220609 03 "The facts given are not correct, we are here to put things in order," he explained, pointing out the facts in the advertisements which he claimed were 'erroneous'.

Among others, the facts he 'corrected' included details of Chua's sacking, the PKFZ scandal and rebuttal of the allegations of corruption and wrongdoings against Ong.

Liow ( right ) who is also health minister then added: "Tomorrow's decision is important for the party, after the March 8 general election the pressure (on MCA) was from the outside, now the pressure is from inside."

Vote of no-confidence against Ong

Tomorrow, the 2,400 strong MCA central delegates will decide on Chua's ( below) reinstatement as the deputy president and on a vote of no-confidence against Ong.

However, Liow downplayed the current infighting in the party as being not as serious as the Team A-Team B fracas of its past which saw it break apart into two factions.

chua soi lek 020108 Pointing to his badge, he said: "We are '1MCA'and still united. This is just a personal and disciplinary matter that we have to solve."

Wong agreed, saying that "MCA is still intact."

Liow also expressed hope that the EGM will solve the issues, confident that the wisdom of the party leadership will resolve the problem.

The MCA secretary-general added that the central committee will abide by the outcome of the EGM and respect the delegates choice.

However, he reiterated that, "the central committee still exists...and there will be a central committee meeting soon after the EGM puts an end to the infighting."