Only fresh party polls can end MCA deadlock

The outcome of the MCA extraordinary general meeting (EGM) yesterday has created an unexpected deadlock with the party crisis set to deepen further after the party delegates decided to reject its two top leaders - Ong Tee Keat and Dr Chua Soi Lek.

"It a lose-lose situation. No conclusion. This has left the party with another headache on how to resolve this, which literally means the problem will continue," said Chang Aik Ming, a MCA

delegate from Johor.

To make the matter worse, not only the delegates did not support the two leaders, they also did not support the party's powerful bodies the CC and the presidential council (PC).

The PC initially had sacked Chua from the party but the CC overturned the decision and handed Chua a four-year suspension.

However, the question now is whether Ong will remain as the party president as he was previously reported to have said that he would step down even if the motion of no-confidence was rejected with a simple majority.

Under the party consitution, in order for the party president to be removed, the no-confidence motion needs to be passed by at least two-thirds of the delegates, but in this case both sides garnered almost similar votes with only 14 votes separating them.

The motion of no-confidence against Ong was passed with 1,155 votes against 1,141.

"Legally you can continue as president, but morally you cannot," said a party insider.

Ong in his brief comments to reporters after the result was announced did not provide much clues except for saying the PC and CC would decide on the party's next course of action.

However, the question remains as to how the PC and CC would be perceived when they make the decision as the delegates had made known that they did not have confidence in them as well when they passed the motion to re-instate Chua as MCA member with immediate effect.

New leaders not ready to take over

Therefore, some analysts and party insider believe that a fresh party election might have to be called to solve the deadlock.

Under the party constitution, if two-thirds or more PC or CC members resign, a fresh party election will have to be called within 30 days but this will mean the internal struggle would continue into the near future even without Ong's or Chua's participation.

However, it is still too early to say if any of the PC or CC member would resign to pave way for the fresh party election but most them are unlikely to do so.

MCA vice-president Dr Ng Yen Yen ( right ) said the four vice-presidents, including herself should meet and discuss as the CC can appoint a president and a deputy president if a vacancy occurred.

Apart from Ng, the other vice-presidents are Housing and Local Government Minister Kong Cho Ha ( below ), Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai and Johor state exco Tan Kok Hon.

"If this happens, Kong and Liow are likely to be the choice as the two received the highest and second highest vote during last year's party election for the VP's post.

"However, I am not convinced that would happen as the next group of leaders are considered weak and not ready to take up the top position," said another party insider.

As both sides try to figure out what went wrong in yesterday's EGM, they do have one thing in common - they blame external influence for causing this outcome.

Whether it is due to the so called "third force" factor, nobody knows for sure but others also blame it on the wording in the first resolution which created some confusion, causing them to mistakenly vote to pass the resolution instead of rejecting it.

All eyes will now be on the coming CC meeting next Thursday while the party members and supporters from both sides continue to debate on the dramatic outcome.

- Bernama