Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein today revealed that he has received a letter from ousted MCA leader Chua Soi Lek following the Registrar of Societies' (ROS) decision not to intervene in the party crisis.

However, the minister is unable to clarify whether the letter, which arrived at his office yesterday, contains an appeal to reinstate Chua as the deputy president.

hishammuddin hussein ppsmi languanges debate issue 260209 06 “I have to check whether the letter contains additional information or whether it is an appeal. I also need to consult the ministry’s lawyer for advice.

“If it is an appeal, then I have the final say on his status in the party,” he told reporters at Parliament lobby today.

He also stressed that Societies Act 1966 is “silent” on the matter pertaining to Chua’s clarification from the ROS on his position in the party.

“The ROS was of the opinion that this matter should be reverted to the party because the Act is silent on this provision.

"But that is not the end. Under Section 18 of the Act, whoever who is not satisfied with the ROS' decision can appeal to the minister,” he stressed, referring to Chua's statement that the ROS had the powers to interfere.

NONE Chua had sought a clarification from the ROS on whether the resolution passed at the Oct 10 extraordinary general meeting to reinstate him as a party member also meant that he would reassume the number two post.

The party’s central committee last week named Liow Tiong Lai to fill the vacant deputy president’s post.

On a personal note, Hishammuddin said the party should not have dragged the ROS into the picture as it would not settle its leadership crisis.

This, he said, is also contrary to the truce agreed to by both MCA president Ong Tee Keat and Chua to end a year-long bitter feud.

Ong revealed recently that he and Chua had agreed to "work as a team" to unite and strengthen the crisis-plagued MCA, the second largest component party in Barisan Nasional.

"If they are really sincere in solving the crisis, they should not have brought in the ROS into the matter," said Hishammuddin.

However, he stressed, he would still "do my job as constituted, if the (appeal) letter is extended to me.

"I will still have to investigate the matter, but if they can settle it in a unity forum and discuss it amongst themselves, it would be better," he added.