VIDEO | 2.16 mins

Twenty MCA central committee members in party president Dr Chua Soi Lek’s faction now want MCA to convene an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to censure deputy president Liow Tiong Lai and to revoke the party’s decision to shun all government posts.

NONE The requisition letter was submitted to the party’s chief administrative director Lim Chin Hai by three of them representing the group - organising secretary Tan Chin Meng, deputy treasurer-general Edward Khoo Keok Hai and central committee member Ei Kim Hock.

They are requesting that the central delegates, who will attend the proposed EGM, to consider a resolution to censure Liow on the following grounds:

  • For his refusal to accept and respect the collective decision of the presidential council and central committee in which he participated, e.g. disciplinary cases etc;
  • For failing in his duty as the general election preparation committee chairperson to carry out all necessary preparations, implementing an effective strategy and good media relations hence causing to the massive losses faced by MCA in the general election;
  • His actions resulting in the party’s image being tarnished and provoked infighting among party members after the general election.
They also want the delegates at the EGM to consider the following three resolutions:

  • To revoke the party resolution passed at the AGM of 2011 and 2012 in order to enable members to accept ministerial, deputy ministerial or any other cabinet posts;
  • That party members shall accept appointments as senators or any other positions in government, e.g. hospital board members and in government-linked companies;
  • That party members shall accept appointments at the state-level, such as state exco, council members, village heads and any other state government posts as deemed essential for the party.

Khoo said the resolution of not accepting any government posts, as it became reality after the last general election, has caused a lot of inconvenience to Malaysians, particularly the Chinese community.

NONE “Now, we request that the decision of not taking any post in the cabinet be discussed again,” he told a press conference after submitting the letter.

Khoo ( centre in picture ) slammed Liow for publicly criticising the decision made by the party presidential council and central committee, saying that Liow was also one of the committee members and should not openly voice his disagreement against a collective decision.

“His unsynchronised statement has shown that he is not a team player and violates the basic principle of democracy,” he added.

Liow has openly opposed the MCA central committee’s decision to lift the suspension of  its former organising secretary Tee Siew Keong.

Khoo further criticised Liow, who also heads the party’s reform special task force, for allowing the grassroots member to tarnish party’s image.

“Whenever grassroots members attack the central leadership, Liow, being the number two man in the party, did not try to advice the members not to do so but instead seemed to encourage them.

“In a way, he failed his duty to carry the special duty taskforce committee,” he added.

"Liow failed in his GE13 task'

Khoo also accused Liow of failing in his task as the general election preparation committee chairperson, which had caused a huge defeat for MCA during the last general election.

“He also failed in taking charge of the party election publicity campaign. This inefficiency and lack of dedication contributed to the poor performance of our party in the 13th general election,” he said.

However, when asked whether Chua should also bear the responsibility for the great defeat of the MCA in GE13, Khoo said this was up to the central delegates to decide.

Pressed further by the reporters, Khoo answered, “This (great loss) is within the collective responsibility of the party.”

Khoo also refused to express his personal opinion on the resolution of shunning any government post, saying that this would be decided by the central delegates as well.

The EGM, he added, would be attended by the new batch of central delegates elected on Sept 22.

Besides three of them, the rest of the central delegates who endorsed the requisition are vice-president Gan Ping Sieu, treasurer-general Tan Chai Ho, deputy national organising secretary Heng Seai Kie, Yeow Chai Thiam, Mah Hang Soon, Lee Chee Leong, Lau Chiek Tuan Khoo Soo Seang, Koh Nai Kwong, Loh Seng Kok, Chong Itt Chew, Por Choo Chor, Teh Kim Poo, Koay Kar Huah, Gan Tian Loo, Tan Ken Ten and Wong Koon Mun .