MCA former vice-president Fong Chan Onn has proposed that the central committee (CC) immediately holds fresh party polls "in the shortest time" to fill the vacuum at the top.

NONE He said this would be the best way to reunite the party and regain the support of the Chinese community, since the central delegates had overridden the collective decision of the presidential council and central committee.

Fong, speaking a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today, was commenting on the outcome of Saturday's party extraordinary general meeting (EGM) which saw the wishes of the 'third force' hold sway in dealing with the feud between the top two leaders.

"In order to reunite the party (and) allow the MCA to bounce back in the fastest possible manner, the best way for the CC to go about bringing back order, dignity and a solid MCA is to immediately (hold) a new round of elections to elect the new leadership," he said.

This would enable the party to recover within the shortest possible time, he noted.

Asked if he would contest, Fong refused to speculate, only saying that "any of the 2,300 delegates can offer themselves" in the fresh polls.

He is widely seen as aligned to Dr Chua Soi Lek who was reinstated as a party member but not as the deputy president in the vote on Saturday.

Chua, the Batu Pahat division head, is now automatically eligible to contest any party post should an election be held.

President must honour his words

NONE Meanwhile, Ong Tee Keat lost the vote of no-confidence against him, which effectively ended his presidency - eight days short of a year since he took over as party chief.

He is currently on four days' leave, pending a final decision on his position on Thursday.

Fong also said that the central committee delegates had sent a clear message to the leadership that the disciplinary action against Chua was unwarranted.

“It is their insistence that brought about the EGM and the no-confidence vote against the president.

"Now is the time for the president to honour his words, to accept the decision of the EGM and to take the necessary action for a smooth transition," he added.

Fong said the leadership should realise that they do not represent the aspirations of the grassroots because the grassroots had voted against them.