More than two thirds of the MCA central delegates have requisitioned an extraordinary general meeting next month to amend the party constitution to postpone the party elections, but whether all of them will turn up at the EGM is another matter altogether.

"There is no guarantee that those who signed up for the EGM will turn up and vote for the postponement. It also depends on how many delegates will turn up and method will be used to decide on the postponement," said a party insider.

NONE Delegates to the EGM are supposed to decide whether to postpone the party elections (due 36 months after the last general election, in this case on March 8, 2008) and then hold the party elections within six months after the next general election.

Under the party constitution, the party may postpone its elections if they are due 42 months after the last general election, and the party elections must be convened within three months after the next general election.

The insider said that if the decision was taken with a show of hands, it would be easy to get two thirds of the delegates present to pass the amendment.

"However, should it be done by secret ballot, then there is a possibility of some of them turning up but not casting their votes. This is exactly what happened at last year's AGM (annual general meeting) when a minor and non-controversial amendment failed to get through," said the insider.

At last year's AGM, the central delegates rejected a proposal by MCA Youth to give its members a bigger role and representation at the party's annual general assembly.

Show of hands or secret ballot

As such, the top leadership will definitely make sure that it will not face a similar predicament at the March 13 EGM, but so far there is no indication as to whether the voting will take place by a show of hands or through a secret ballot.

If the postponement does not come through, the party will have to go ahead with the elections, and there is speculation that president Dr Chua Soi Lek will be challenged.

mca re-election nomination 220310 kong chor har MCA secretary-general Kong Cho Ha ( centre ) said the party would leave it to the delegates to decide whether they want a show of hands or a secret ballot to decide the amendment to the constitution.

"According to party constitution, it will be by a show of hands. However, if one-third of the delegates present request for a secret ballot, then voting will be carried out through a secret ballot," said Kong, adding that they were ready for both scenarios.

However, some party leaders said that with such overwhelming support, it would not be a problem for the party to postpone the polls to prepare for the next general election.

"The current term (of the office bearers and delegates) is due to expire this year. If you can postpone the elections, they can get an extension, let's say for another 18 months. Why not? It is something that benefits the current delegates," said a divisional leader.

"Moreover, this is a non-controversial issue. I don't see the central delegates rejecting the proposal," said a central delegate from the Bakri division in Johor.

Motion of no-confidence

He said most of the delegates concurred with the advice of Dr Chua that party positions would be meaningless if the party loses more seats in the next general election.

Therefore, the delegate said, there was a need for members to consolidate and move forward as the party's biggest challenge was how to convince the people they represented and not which position they should be vying for in the party elections.

NONE The March 13 EGM will be the third EGM to be held since 2009.

The first was held in October 2009 to decide on the motion of no-confidence against the then party president Ong Tee Keat and the position of the then deputy president Dr Chua ( right ) who was suspended due to his VCD sex scandal.

The motion of no-confidence against Ong at the Oct 10, 2009 EGM was passed but without the two-third majority while the suspension on Dr Chua was lifted.

The second EGM was held in March last year to hold fresh party elections to resolve a prolonged internal battle.

It saw Dr Chua ousting Ong and another candidate, former president Ong Ka Ting, in a three-corner race.

- Bernama