MCA's much touted peace plan has met its first major obstacle today with former secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan criticising the move as undemocratic.

mca party election nomination day 131008 03 ong ka chuan In a statement today, Ka Chuan ( left ) said president Ong Tee Keat's plan had in effect turned the Oct 10 extraordinary general meeting (EGM) outcome into a "joke".

He said both Tee Keat and Dr Chua Soi Lek's factions had agreed on the resolutions before a notice for the EGM was issued.

"The EGM is over and delegates have made their voices known. Everyone must respect their decisions. If we ignored it, wouldn't it look like a joke?" he asked.

During the EGM, delegates narrowly passed a vote of no-confidence against Tee Keat and also narrowly passed a vote to reinstate Chua's membership, but not his deputy president's post.

Subsequently, Tee Keat reneged on his promise and refused to step down while Chua is now seeking the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to reinstate him to his former post.

Ka Chuan said the party's assembly was the highest decision-making body and once a decision has been made, it must be accepted and respected.

He said that at the very least, the party leadership must explain to the members why the delegate's views were ignored.

Najib consulted, not party leaders

Ka Chuan also criticised Tee Keat for not consulting the central committee over the plan and instead sought the approval of the Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, which he said was inappropriate.

He said this would result in public perception that the party was susceptible to external interference.

NONE "Before the unity plan was announced, they had to seek the prime minister's blessings. People will think that the premier intervened in MCA affairs," he said.

He said the proper procedure was for Tee Keat to convene a central committee meeting, and if necessary, a EGM before briefing the Najib as Barisan Nasional chairperson.

"This is the way to preserve the party's dignity," he said.

"The prime minister wants to see a united MCA. If we are serious, sincere and not acting for personal gain in using internal party mechanisms to resolve the matter, why won't the premier give his blessings?"

Ka Chuan and his younger brother Ka Ting are widely speculated to be members of the so-called " third force " in MCA who are trying to drive out both Tee Keat and Soi Lek.

The “third force”, which is believed to include those aligned with former deputy chief Chan Kong Choy, emerged just before the EGM and is said to have helped tilt the vote to ensure that neither faction won.