The MCA caretaker central committee today resolved to proceed with the party's annual general meeting on Sunday and demanded both the Wanita and Youth wings to follow suit.

Secretary-general Wong Foon Meng cited by-laws of the two wings which compel them to convene their respective annual general assemblies one day before the central body's, which is tomorrow.

Additionally, Wong said the date of the AGMs was unanimously decided at the Jan 29 central committee meeting, and the two wings have no right to overturn this decision.

The move is seen as an attempt by embattled MCA president Ong Tee Keat to prevent his detractors - Wanita wing chief Chew Mei Fun and Youth chief Wee Ka Siong - from scoring a crucial psychological victory.

Earlier today, both the Wanita and Youth wings' executive committees at their respective meetings resolved to postpone their AGMs in anticipation of fresh polls to be held in 30 days.

The caretaker central committee has also decided to hold new leadership polls on March 28 and advised the two wings to do the same.

Wong, who has been today elected coordinator for the elections, stressed that the committee cannot compel the Wanita and Youth wings to pick the same date, because no final decision was made on this matter at the last central committee meeting. 

'Wings cannot overrule us'

"The central committee today will only advise, and it is up to the respective wings to hold fresh elections as they have been equally responsible for the state of affairs in MCA today," he said.

He was speaking to reporters after a three-and-a-half hour meeting. Ong was not present because he had to leave for a meeting with Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

NONE According to party organising secretary Simon Lim, Article 41 of the party constitution empowers the remaining central committee members to administor party affairs.

He stressed that party rules are silent on a "caretaker central committee" and refuted Wee's claims that such a body had abused their power.

"Today, there was no new decision made. What we did was merely implement and administer decisions made in the last central committee.

"Thus, the Youth and Wanita executive committees cannot challenge the decisions of the last central committee decision to hold the AGM. 

"To say that the central committee (today) overruled their decision to postpone the AGMs is not correct. This is because their (Youth and Wanita executive committee) decision is not in accordance with the previous central committee. They shouldn't blame the central body. 

"(So) the Youth chief cannot decide on whether to hold an AGM or not," he said. 

Boycott

Since the Youth and Wanita wings have resolved to postpone their AGMs, both wings' leadership have declared their AGMs tomorrow as ordered to be held by the CC as illegal and urged the delegates not to attend.

Lim said it was inconsequential if the Youth and Wanita leadership choose to boycott the AGM tomorrow because the meeting can convene if the quorum is met. 

He said it takes only 200 delegates from each of the respective wings to meet their quorum and the non-attendance of their elected leaders will not affect the validity of the AGM. 

"They can choose their own speaker to convene a legal meeting," he said.