Embattled MCA vice-president Liow Tiong Lai today defended the call from his faction for a fresh extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on Nov 28 to facilitate fresh party polls.

Speaking to the media along with eight MCA members of parliament at the parliament lobby, Liow said the proposed EGM was legitimate and was being called in accordance with the party constitution.

He rubbished remarks made by MCA secretary-general Wong Foon Meng that the proposed EGM was "unconstitutional and unworkable".

NONE The EGM has been called by 16 central committee members, including party vice-president Tan Kok Hon, Youth chief Wee Ka Siong and Wanita chief Chew Mei Fun.

Under the party's constitution, an EGM can be called via three ways - directed by the party president, requisitioned by one-third of the CC members or requisitioned by one-third of the central delegates.

Liow had said then that he believed holding fresh polls was one of the solutions to build up the party's integrity.

Also present at the press conference today were Wee, Chew and former secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan.

Ong also reiterated that the proposed EGM abided with the party's constitution.

"According to Article 30(2) of the party's constitution 1/3 of the central committee members can call for an EGM," he said.

"We want to stress that as MPs, the EGM is valid and is in accordance with the constitution. It will be executed properly on Nov 28... it is the best way to settle the internal problem in MCA," said Liow.

"So it is clear that the EGM is not unconstitutional. The process in which it has been called for has been transparent... the agenda is also in accordance with Article 27, which says that the EGM can discuss any topic. This time the topic is the issue of fresh polls," he added.

He assured MCA's 2,380 delegates that the they do not have to concern themselves with the legitimacy of the EGM.

Liow confidently said that the upcoming EGM will be able to settle all the problems within the party.

"The EGM is the right of the delegate and it cannot be denied by any one, not even the president," said Liow.

Wee said that the the EGM will constitute two resolutions:

  • To get a new mandate from the delegates for fresh central committee polls
  • To nullify the sacking of the four central committee members, and all other promises made by the president

ROS was misinformed

Ong also said that Liow was appointed as the new deputy in accordance with the party's constitution to replace Chua Soi Lek.

He also added that the Registrar of Societies could have been misinformed on the status of Chua's suspension.

NONE "I don't want to use mislead but there was misrepresentation (of facts)," he said.

"Liow was elected as deputy under Article 174 where the CC is allowed to interpret if a vacancy existed," he added.

He also noted that the Oct 10 EGM had failed to restore Chua to his deputy president's post but had only restored his party membership.

Chua was reinstated as the deputy by the party on Nov 3, a decision which meant Liow was back to his old position as the vice-president.

Ong explained the sequence of events as to why the letter given by ROS cannot be justified as a decision.

"Chua was sacked by the presidential council, so he started a petition. Then the CC changed his sacking to a four-year suspension.

"The decision still stays. Then came the EGM three resolutions came up for consideration; a vote of no-confidence against the president, the reinstatement of Chua as a member, and the reinstatement of Chua as deputy president. The third motion was rejected while the first two were passed by the delagates.

Ong noted that the results of the EGM reinforced the CC's decision with regards to the suspension.

"What they should have done was to call a meeting to sustain or to remove the decision after the EGM...but it is too late now. They have been superceeded by the EGM.

"The unity plan, to me, is a very good idea, but you must first resolve the confusion. People are saying that calling an EGM now is causing the delegates trouble.

"But the person who caused this confusion is the one who gave them trouble. The people who petitioned for an EGM cannot be blamed because there are many issues unresolved," said Ong.

'Positions are not important'

Liow, responding to Chua's willingness to offer his deputy president's post, said: "We want democracy and the party constitution to be respected. We want leaders to have integrity.

"We want dignity and the credibility of party to be restored so we can get the support of the community and public for the next general election," he said.

Positions are not important, stressed Liow, adding that he is not calling for the EGM for the sake of a position.

chua soi lek 020108 Asked about his meeting with Chua ( left ), he admitted that he did meet with Chua and Ong Tee Keat (MCA president), to discuss party unity.

Liow also admitted that he had voted against Chua's to be reinstated as deputy because the ROS did not have jurisdiction to make that declaration.

"Even the clause which they refered was not relevant. The ROS letter was not a reinstatement letter but just a view... It was not a letter confirming Chua as deputy," said Liow.

Liow, had on Monday, written to the ROS seeking clarification on his post as the deputy president as well as a compilation of past minutes of meetings and the previous EGM's minutes.

"They (ROS) are giving their views without hearing my side of the story. It is only right for me to give them my side so they can review in perspective," said Liow.