Embattled MCA president Ong Tee Keat today said he will act in the best interest of the party but did not reveal if he will step down from the post.

Prior to yesterday's extraordinary general meeting, Ong said he will quit if the central committee members passed a no-confidence motion against him.

mca welcoming dinner for central delegates 091009 ong tee keat speech "I take full responsibility for the outcome of the EGM and will act in the best interest of the party after consulting my colleagues and supporters and the deliberations of the next central committee meeting," he said in his blog posting.

Stating that he respected the delegates’ decision, Ong added: "The results have sent certain messages which I could see are now being interpreted in the press by different parties in many ways."

"I have also received a lot of feedback, appeals and advice, which I truly appreciate. The central committee will discuss all avenues and angles regarding the results and the immediate future of the party," he said.

Four-day leave

Meanwhile, Bernama reported that Ong is taking a four-day leave, starting today until Wednesday.

"Ong Tee Keat will be on leave from 11/10/2009 (Sunday) to 14/10/2009 (Wednesday). Thank you for your cooperation and understanding," his press secretary Lim Xiu Bin said a statement.

MCA is now left with a leadership vacuum after both Ong and his rival, Dr Chua Soi Lek, who was bidding to be reinstated as deputy president, were spurned by the delegates in yesterday's EGM.

Ong, who is Transport Minister, suffered a lost of confidence in his stewardship by a narrow 14-vote margin, when his supporters were outvoted 1,155 to 1,141.

The EGM reinstated Chua as a member but rejected the resolution to return him to the number two post.

The MCA central committee is scheduled to meet next Thursday to decide the next course of action as speculations of a new party election gathers steam.

Chua was sacked by the party's presidential council in August for tarnishing the party's image over his sex video scandal but the central committee overturned the punishment and replaced it with a four-year suspension.