ANALYSIS Instead of healing the rift , the reconciliation between MCA president Ong Tee Kiat and his former deputy Chua Soi Lek may have instead set the stage for another internal battle.

Chua, who has been trying hard to regain his deputy president's post, and his supporters have already been absorbed into the establishment led by Ong.

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Meanwhile, a splinter group from the president's team, led by newly appointed deputy president Liow Tiong Lai, is now the new force that wants both Chua and Ong to step down in line with the decision of the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) held on Oct 10.

This faction has the support of about half of the central committee (CC) members and both the youth and Wanita wings.

Second EGM or Umno's unseen hands?

Many expect that a second battle will be launched soon by Liow and his supporters.

Some Chinese dailies reported that they will start collecting signatures from the youth delegates to call for a second EGM to oust Ong.

If the signature campaign fails, they could still mobilise one-third of the CC members to petition for EGM.

wee ka siong parliament 290609 But youth chief Wee Ka Siong( left ) has denied the reports.

Another possible move predicted by CC member Ti Lian Ker, a staunch Ong supporter, is that Liow creates an impression that MCA is so badly divided that Umno will have to move in and repeat the 2001 'peace plan' to force both Ong and Chua to go.

Hoping for 'inclusive' team

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However, the current situation does not allow Liow ( right ) to declare another war.

Firstly, when the unity plan was revealed last week, Ong announced that he would reshuffle the party leadership to form an 'inclusive' team that reflects all the factions in the party.

Thus leaders from all factions are holding their fire with the hope that they will be included into the new line-up.

"The president may include Liow's men into the new leadership. So why don't we wait and see before declaring war?" said a CC member who declined to be named.

He claimed that the previous infighting was prompted by Ong's arbitrary decision to marginalise Chua and his supporters when appointing office bearers.

"I think he has learnt a lesson. This time he will try to balance all the factions."

Grassroots exhausted

The second factor is the party grassroots' general sentiment.

After a two-month power tussle that split the party and an EGM that nearly put the party into anarchy, most members are tired and frustrated.

This is why the unity plan did not draw flak from the grassroots.

"Whether the unity plan is in-line with the party constitution or not is not their main concern.

What is important to them now is to stabilise the MCA or else the party will lose people support," said a party insider.

Najib's blessing instrumental

The most important factor lies in the hands of Prime Minister cum BN chairperson Najib Razak.

According to Ong, the unity plan was agreed to and given Najib's blessing.

Later Najib was quoted as saying that Ong and Chua both garnered almost half of the support in EGM hence only their cooperation could represent MCA.

This statement was deemed as Najib's open support for the duo's leadership.

All the above factors are said to be forcing Liow's faction to go for a truce instead of trying for a new battle.

Liow opts for moderate strategy

The press conference held by Liow and his supporters yesterday reflected his choice of a more moderate strategy.

Although quizzed by reporters several times in the press conference, Liow and his supporters refused to openly ask Ong to step down.

The furthest they went was in urging Ong to 'follow the EGM decision' but without elaborating what they really meant.

In fact, they asked the president to call for a CC meeting as soon as possible to discuss the details of the unity plan and also to clear themselves of the label of being called 'traitors' and 'betrayers'.

In other words, their focus now is to build up momentum to pressure Ong to retain them in the upcoming new line-up.

It is the presidential prerogative to appoint party office bearers, including the central leadership and state chiefs.

And it does not need to be endorsed by the CC.

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