Two of five resolutions dropped in EGM

Two of the five resolutions at today’s MCA emergency general meeting were withdrawn as both were considered redundant.

Party speaker Yip Phoi Hong announced the decision to drop both resolutions - which has been agreed by the party’s two feuding factions - before kicking off the EGM at 10.30am at the MCA headquarters.

The two resolutions were (1) to revoke any appointment, including that of deputy president, made before the EGM and (2) that no disciplinary action be taken against the EGM requisitionists.

The delegates subsequently took 90 minutes to vote for three remaining resolutions - (1) motion of no confidence against Ong, (2) to annul the party's decision to expel/suspend Chua, and (3) to reinstate Chua as MCA deputy president.

A total of 2,307 delegates, or 96.9 percent, have turned up for the crucial meeting. The party secretariat said that 73 delegates failed to register this morning.

Among the absentees was former president Ong Ka Ting.

Party president Ong Tee Keat, one of the final few delegates to vote, went up to podium at 11.50am to insert his ballot papers into the ballot boxes.

Meanwhile, his nemesis Dr Chua Soi Lek, who has been suspended, was not entitled to vote in the EGM.

Voting closed at 11.55am, and counting began about one hour later after a short break. It was announced that three delegates did not collect their ballot papers.

Last-minute campaigning

Ong and Chua arrived at the party headquarters in Wisma MCA, Jalan Ampang, early this morning to have breakfast with delegates in a huge tent erected in front of the building.

Both ignored each other while greeting arriving delegates. They walked pass each other - three times - without acknowledging the presence of the other.

When press photographers asked the two men to pose for the cameras, the duo pretended that they did not hear the requests.

When asked about their chances, the two men said they were confident in emerging victorious.

"If three of the agendas are passed, I can go 'home'," Chua said, adding

that "home" referred to the MCA.

Chua, who was not entitled to vote, arrived as early at 8am to meet the delegates but left as the EGM begun.

Ong, who looked upbeat, told reporters that he was confident of the wisdom of the central delegates in making the best decision for the party.

The EGM also attracted wide media coverage as more than 200 journalists, including those frome the foreign media, started to arrive at Wisma MCA as early as 6am.

Meanwhile, security at the venue was heightened with some 30 police personnel put on guard to prevent any untoward incident.

A police squad with two dogs was also seen checking the vicinity of the MCA headquarters at 7am.

A group of residents from Kampung Bukit Koman, Raub, Pahang, were also spotted at the MCA headquarters seeking signatures for their petition against the used of cynide for gold mining operations near their village.

The 10 residents all donned face masks as a mark of protest.

Separate dinners last night

Last night, in a show of force, the two rival leaders organised separate dinners for the party delegates.

An estimated 1,700 attended Ong's dinner while about 1,500 were at Chua's dinner. Chua, however, claimed that he had more delegates attending his function.

The party did not allocate time for debate on the resolutions, and the voting process, which started as soon as EGM was flagged off, lasted about 90 minutes.

Delegates are told to either put a 'tick' or a 'cross' in a box next to the three resolutions.

Each faction has appointed eight scrutineers to observe the vote count.

Judging by the mood of the delegates, resolution two is expected to be passed. However, all eyes are on resolution one and three, and party insiders said that it was too close to call.

The two resolutions will determine who the party delegates want to lead MCA.

The 60-year-old Chinese-based political party has been plunged into a bitter tussle since both men were elected to the posts in the party elections on Oct 18 last year.

The situation worsened after the presidential council sacked Chua in late August following the exposure of his sex scandal in 2007.

The party's powerful central committee later reduced the expulsion to a four-year suspension.

[More to follow]