Former MCA vice-president Fong Chan Onn (below right) today gave his full support to embattled party president Ong Tee Keat in his call for fresh party elections.

Yesterday, the party's powerful CC met to seek a solution to its leadership crisis.

NONE However, the meeting failed to resolve the thorny issue. Instead, the meeting saw the powerful committee split between those who wanted fresh elections, and those who wanted Ong to resign and the CC to elect the new party president from among its members.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, the former human resources minister said that a new leadership election is the "best way to solve the disunity and agony currently experienced by the party".

He warned that the party has very little time, less than two years before the next general election, to rebuild itself and regain the support of its members as well as to present the party as a viable choice for the rakyat .

"Short-cut measures like the CC (central committee) electing the party leadership from amongst themselves does not work," he added.

"The CC no longer has the full support and mandate of the central delegates," said Fong pointing out that the results of last Saturday's extraordinary general meeting (EGM) demonstrated their lack of confidence in the powerful committee.

Return power to the delegates

He urged the CC - which consists of 30 elected members and 12 appointed members - to respect the voice of the party membership as represented by the 2,500 central delegates.

The veteran politician called on the CC to do the right thing, "My humble suggestion is for the CC to give the responsibility and right to elect party leaders back to the delegates".

Fong also urged the 42 CC members to set aside their personal interests and cease using technical legalities to stay in power. Instead, he appealed to them to stop ‘prolonging the agony' that the party is under and think of what is best for the future of the party.

Asked if he would offer himself as a candidate should there be a party election, Fong sidestepped the issue by saying that he did not wish to speculate on the matter.

Instead, the three-term MCA vice-president called for the net to be cast wider and to allow the next generation of leaders to emerge.

Equating a fresh new search for leaders in the Chinese party to the process which saw the election of Barack Obama, Fong added, "Who knows? There may be good leaders out there among the 2,500 central delegates".

But he was quick to add that any member is free to contest the party elections.

‘EGM can call fresh party elections'

liow tiong lai pc 151009 03 When questioned on newly-appointed MCA deputy president Liow Tiong Lai's (left) claim yesterday that the CC cannot be dissolved nor fresh elections called without two thirds of its members resigning, the ex-MCA vice president said that an EGM resolution can provide for party elections if it is worded in the right way.

"The EGM is the highest authority and every one must abide by it," he added, stressing that CC members who are elected by the central delegates must listen to those they represent and follow the wishes of the delegates.