Dr Chua Soi Lek today announced his resignation as deputy president, along with seven other central committee members, to force fresh polls for the top leadership.

The seven central committee members include Kong Cho Ha, Tan Chai Ho, Loh Seng Kok, Chong Itt Chew, Gan Tian Loo, Tee Siew Keong and Por Choo Chor.

NONE "I hope this will settle the year-long conflict once and for all. I hope everyone will respect the decision of the delegates," said Chua ( right ).

Coupled with 13 central committee members from vice-president Liow Tiong Lai's faction who have pledged to resign three months ago, Chua's team will thus provide the exact number of resignations  needed to fulfill the requirement for the central committee to dissolve itself.

Based on the party constitution, the resignation of two-thirds of the CC will automatically trigger fresh polls within 30 days.

Chua also urged the party to postpone the annual general meeting (AGM) scheduled for this Sunday to a later date where elections would be incorporated.

The long-delayed AGM, given today's stunning development, is likely to be put off again. 

Chua: Not ganging up with Liow

With this decision, Chua said it proved that no party member should put their own interest above of the party, stressing that this was why he rejected nominations as Star Group Bhd chairperson.

Now that he had resigned, Chua said he cannot attend the scheduled central committee meeting tomorrow and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's dinner with four MCA faction leaders tonight.

On whether he will contest during the party polls, Chua said he will decide on nomination day.

To a question, Chua said he did not inform party president Ong Tee Keat of his resignations, but admitted that this was relayed to Liow by telephone this morning.

Chua dismissed claims that he was now "joining forces" with Liow, adding that their only common ground was to push for fresh polls to end the crisis which has engulfed the party.

Liow's team confirms resignation

Meanwhile at a separate press conference also at the party headquarters an hour later, Liow announced that the 13 MCA leaders from his faction, including himself, officially submitted their resignation letters today.

Other than Liow, the 12 others are: Lee Wei Kiat, Hou Kok Chung, Yu Chok Tow, Wong Nai Chee, Wee Jeck Seng, Dr Yeow Chai Thiam, Hoh Khai Mun, Liew Yuen Keong, Wong Mook Leong, Edward Khoo Keok Hai, Tan Kok Hong and Alex Wong Siong Hwee.

NONE According to Liow, the total of 21 resignations meant that the central committee is now automatically dissolved and therefore the central committee meeting tomorrow cannot proceed.

He said that the fate of the AGM scheduled for Sunday now lies with secretary-general Wong Foon Meng. 

Liow later dodged questions on whether his faction would ally themselves with Chua's faction in the upcoming party polls.

 

He also denied that there was any coordination between the two groups with regards to the simultaneous resignations by both.

“Chua did not inform me about his decision, I only came to know after receiving the SMS news alert.”

 

MIRT to support sec-gen

Reading out a statement from the MCA Integrity Restoring Taskforce (MIRT), a pressure group Liow leads to push for fresh polls, he thanked party members for their support and urged central delegates to elect a dynamic team with integrity to lead the party.

He also added that the committee will cooperate fully to assist Wong in ensuring a fair and transparent party election

Liow's faction has been been pushing for fresh polls for the central committee since last November after president Ong reneged on a promise to resign after losing a no-confidence vote a month earlier.

While Chua was supportive of fresh polls, he had been very coy on when he would resign from the central committee until today.

Previously, Liow and 12 central committee members have offered to quit to pave way for fresh polls and they need eight more to force fresh party polls.

Additional reporting by Goh Seng Ching.

 

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