The small group of MCA members and central delegates staging a sit-in protest yesterday against the coming extraordinary general meeting (EGM), slept outside party headquarters last night.

According to a protester Yap Ah Seng, the group, armed with sleeping bags, had to sleep outside the building as security guards banned them from the lobby at about 10pm.

He claimed that mosquitoes’ bit them throughout the night and were only permitted back into the lobby at 6am today.

“The sad thing was, many central leaders who walked in and out of the building did not bother about this at all,” said Yap who is a member of newly-formed ‘MCA grassroots conscience action committee’.

The group is protesting this Sunday’s EGM which was called to review the party’s resolution to reject any ministerial posts, arrived at  a result of MCA’s dismal performance in last year’s general election.

They hold the position that it will be wrong for the party to rejoin the cabinet before first garnering more support from the Chinese community

At about noon today, the protesters, led by Yap, headed to Liow Tiong Lai’s office to submit their memorandum but were left dejected as the party president was not around.

“We have announced the time for submission (of the memorandum) earlier, but why did Liow not turn up? Is he escaping and does he look down on us?” Yap questioned

'EGM backed by 80pct of central delegates'

The memorandum was later received by MCA administration officer Yap Chin Chin.

Early this month, MCA had received the backing of some 80 percent of the central delegates to call for the EGM to decide if the party should now accept government posts in local and state governments as well as the cabinet.

Liow said the EGM was necessary, based on feedback from central delegates, businesspersons and Chinese associations that want MCA back in the government.

Commenting on the issue, MCA investment arm Huaren Resources Sdn Bhd senior property manager Hew Yit Hwa has issued a statement, urging the protesters to cease such demonstrations at the Jalan Ampang premises, and added that it inconveniences other tenants in the building.

To this, Yap ( right ) replied that Wisma MCA is a home for party members, and therefore it is not wrong for them to stay put there.

“There was no management officer who had came down to deal with us all this while - including anyone from the party leadership and the secretariat - so why did the manager make a statement to the press? This is wrong,” he stressed.