Former MCA secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan has blamed president Ong Tee Keat for the 'two deputies' situation in the crisis-plagued party.

Ka Chuan revealed that Tee Keat was already in talks with Dr Chua Soi Lek on Oct 15 - five days after a vote of no-confidence was passed against him (the president).

Tee Keat, however, failed to disclose this to the central committee (CC) when it met on Oct 15.

At the meeting, the CC elected Liow Tiong Lai as deputy president upon interpreting that post to be vacant.

NONE Ka Chuan said that he came to know that Tee Keat had "discreetly contacted " Chua to discuss the unity plan from conversations with several CC members.

"(Tee Keat) should have told the CC about the mooting of the unity plan, and that they wanted peace...the president was irresponsible.

"If it is truly a unity plan and if he was sincere about it, then why the need for him to hide it?" he asked.

Ka Chuan also expressed doubts that the plan will be able to solve the problems in MCA.

"A unity plan, as a term, is a good thing, but to me, it seems like there is some sort of trickery involved," he said.

Ka Chuan, who is saddened by the whole situation, added that it is improper to say that those who do not support the plan are not in favour of party unity.

"It is as if they are trying cover up the conflict. But if we don't solve this now, it will carry on, and one day it will be beyond our control," he said.

ROS wrong to involve themselves

Ka Chuan also said the claim that the second extraordinary general meeting ( EGM ) on Nov 28 by Liow's faction was "a waste of resources and a burden to the delegates" is deceptive.

"(The problems) were not caused by the 16 people who called for the EGM, but by those who did not honour the decisions of the (Oct 10) EGM," he said.

He added that the decisions made at the EGM are morally, if not legally, binding.

NONE "The EGM is like the highest court in the party. Both the president and the deputy president (Chua) did not honour its decisions," he said.

Ka Chuan also feels that dragging the Registrar of Societies into the matter was a mistake.

"They are just watchdogs and should not involve themselves in party matters when all avenues had yet to be exhausted," he said.

Among other avenues left to be explored, he said, was the EGM on Nov 28 and the annual general meeting (AGM) on Dec 5.

"It may be troublesome for the delegates but the situation calls for it. It's like by-elections, something unavoidable, we should not give up our right to vote," he said.

Going to the ROS, he added, revealed that the leadership had ran out of options and is unable to resolve the problem.

"It also shows lack of political morals. It is like I'm unhappy with a decision of one court, so I bring the matter to another court... the leadership has no integrity," he said.

NONE Asked if this means that he is against Tee Keat and has joined the Liow faction, he said: "I'm not siding with anyone. I stand for the party."

"Individuals come and go, but the party must prevail," he added.

He also stressed that the decision of who should be president and deputy president should be left to the delegates.

"In my opinion, both the deputy and president should be picked by the delegates (via an EGM or AGM) and not by any committee smaller than that like the CC," he said.

Liow tells Chua: Surrender No 2 post, go for fresh polls