It seems that the second extraordinary general meeting (EGM) next Saturday will likely be called off and the MCA will be heading for fresh polls in six months' time, according to party sources.

The sources said both sides were now working towards that direction, but the question is when will the fresh party elections be held as both sides are said to disagree on the timing.

The faction headed by MCA president Ong Tee Keat and his deputy Dr Chua Soi Lek wants fresh elections after the direct election system is put in place - that is between six and eight months, but the faction led by vice-president Liow Tiong Lai wants fresh elections be held soon in return for calling off the planned Nov 28 EGM.

Prime Minister Najib Razak yesterday said that he had proposed a formula to resolve the prolonged crisis after meeting with the top leaders of the warring factions on Thursday.

However, he did not reveal the formula except saying that the leaders involved were now considering it which he believed would probably be acceptable to all quarters involved.

"The second EGM planned for Nov 28 is likely to be called off if they can come to an agreement when party fresh polls can be conducted. However, both sides are still discussing as there is suggestion that it should be held within six months," a party source told Bernama .

Chua appears to back polls in March

Ong has left the negotiation to Chua as he had left for London this morning to attend the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) GeneralAssembly. He is only scheduled to return next Wednesday.

"The next few days will be crucial. They've got to find a consensus on when fresh polls can be conducted," the source said.

When contacted, Chua declined to comment on the plan except saying that if fresh polls were to be held, the earliest possible would be March next year and the polls would use the current election system and not the direct system as had been proposed.

"Our stand has not changed. We have all this while agreed to have fresh elections but not the Nov 28 EGM," he said in a brief comment.

Thus, it is interesting to watch when the two factions will come to an agreement as the prime minister has expressed hope that the MCA internal crisis be resolved as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Najib has asked Deputy Prime Minister and BN deputy chairman Muhyiddin Yassin to continue the discussions with the MCA leaders based on the formula proposed.

The prime minister has left for the US for a visit and will then travel to Trinidad and Tobago to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).