MCA vice-president Liow Tiong Lai's push for fresh polls has hit a brick wall for now after the central committee (CC) decided that no such contest would be held since only 13 CC members have offered to quit.

In order to dissolve the committee and pave way for a fresh polls, 21 CC members or two third have to resign.

NONE MCA deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek announced this during a press conference at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur after the four-hour meeting.

"The CC feels that if the adequate number of CC members resign, there will be fresh polls. We cannot stop people from resigning nor can we force people to resign," he said, adding that CC members are free to resign anytime if they want to push for fresh polls.

Chua chaired the press conference after president Ong Tee Keat left the meeting earlier to seek medical treatment for his ankle.

All the CC members aligned to Liow's camp did not turn up for the press conference.

Liow also left the meeting earlier claiming that he has another meeting to attend. He refused to comment on the outcome.

Ong-Chua strengthen base

Meanwhile, Chua also announced that the MCA annual general assembly, which was to be held in October, will now take place on March 7.

The meet was postponed when Liow's faction demanded for a fresh polls to be held simultaneously with the AGM.

In a related development, former vice-president Dr Fong Chan Onn, as expected, was appointed by Ong as the new disciplinary committee chairperson replacing Ng Chong Kiat who resigned following Chua's reinstatement as number two.

Ong's political secretary Simon Lim was appointed to the powerful post of organising secretary. He will be assisted by Chua's protege Tee Siew Kiong, a CC member cum Pulai Sebatang assemblyman.

These appointments are seen as a move to strengthen Ong and Chua's grip on the party.

The other newly appointed members to the disciplinary committee are former youth deputy chief Chan Tse Yuen, former deputy speaker of Dewan Rakyat Lim Si Cheng, Lau Chih Siang and Ivan Chen Kai Hong.