The outcome of the proposed MCA extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to review the party’s resolution to decline cabinet appointments will be known by noon tomorrow, upon completion of the tabulation of signatures.

MCA central committee (CC) member Mah Hang Soon said the CC had organised a signature collection drive nationwide to garner support to urge the party leadership to hold the EGM.

“However, on the exact number of signatures we have gathered, we can only know by noon tomorrow before we pass it to the party leadership,” he told a news conference at Wisma MCA in Kuala Lumpur today.

According to the party constitution, an EGM can be called by either the president, or upon receiving support from two-thirds of the CC members, or receiving support from two-thirds of the central delegates.

In the party’s annual general meeting in 2011 and 2012, MCA had made a resolution not to accept any government post, should it perform badly in the 2013 general election.

In the Oct 20 EGM last year, the delegates had rejected a motion to rescind the decision.

At the 13th general election, the party only won seven parliamentary and 11 state seats, as compared to 15 parliamentary and 32 state seats in the previous election in 2008.

Mah said it was important for MCA to re-enter the cabinet to serve the public, especially the Chinese community, as the party’s absence in the government could cause a lot of problems.

“We are concerned about our party, and the Chinese community... so, this is the best time to re-enter the Cabinet or go in with the government,” said the Perak MCA liaison committee chairperson.

- Bernama