Embattled MCA president Ong Tee Keat has sacked four central committee members aligned to deputy president Liow Tiong Lai just hours before the committee was slated to hold its meeting at 1pm.

Those sacked are Deputy Finance Minister Chor Chee Hueng, Chai Kim Sen, Yoo Wei How and Gan Hon Su.

NONE They were among the 16 CC members who inked a memorandum last week calling for a extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to decide on whether to hold a fresh elections.

All four were appointed by Ong but have switched their allegiance to his newly-named deputy since the party's controversial Oct 10 EGM.

The president has appointed three new CC members as replacement, all of whom are linked to his nemesis-turned-ally Dr Chua Soi Lek. The trio are Donald Lim, Tan Chin Meng, and Chua's son Tee Yong.

There was more bad news for Liow today when the powerful Registrar of Societies (ROS) declared Chua as the rightful No 2.

'Lone ranger's revenge'

Speaking at a press conference later, Chor said the four CC members were issued termination letters at 10.30am.

"This is a surprise to us. We were all dressed up ready for the meeting where an important agenda was going to be discussed - the president's greater unity plan," he added.

NONE However, Chor said their sacking has made a mockery of the so-called unity plan.

"On one hand, he (Ong) talks about unity, while on the other, he gets rid of people who do not agree with what he is doing and saying," he added.

Calling it an act of vengence, Chor said the embattled president was trying every trick in the book to hold on to power.

"He has resorted to all kinds of methods to stay as president, by hook or by crook. We believe that no other president had done this.

"It is an act of revenge against most of us in the CC who did not agree with him. However, we were sacked because we were appointed. We were his supporters (once)," he added.

NONE According to Chor, Ong was still behaving like a 'lone ranger' by making unilateral decisions without consultation.

However, he said the four would accept the decision in order to avoid another tiff and would not appeal.

"We believe in fresh elections to elect a new set of leaders. We are not leaders nor martyrs, only mid-level party leaders," he added.

On the same note, Chor stressed that their sacking would not block the call for an EGM as others also wanted it. "We are just the tip of the iceberg."

"The requisition for the EGM was signed while we were still CC members, it is deemed effective," he added.

More of Liow's men axed

As to whether the sacking would affect his deputy minister post, Chor said these were separate issues.

"One is a party position and the other is the prime minister's appointment. The PM has the power to appoint and no one can question his prerogative to do so," he added.

NONE Nevertheless, the deputy minister said he was prepared for any eventuality.

In a related development, Ong also replaced information chief Lee Wee Kiat, a Liow supporter, with one of his own - MCA Wanita secretary-general Heng Seai Kie.

The president also picked party veteran Lim Hong Sang as MCA's new legal bureau chief.

Lim replaces Leong Tang Chong, who was removed two weeks ago as part of a 'management reshuffle'.

Ong had sacked Leong after he failed to take instructions from the president.