Those supporting the MCA takeover of Nanyang Press might have won in today's vote at the party's extraordinary general meeting, but for the faction which campaigned against the controversial deal, it was a victorious loss.

Some 300 anti-Nanyang takeover supporters who were waiting outside the venue at Wisma MCA, cheered in support of their leaders as they emerged from the auditorium after the decision was announced.

Party president Lim Ah Lek and his vice-president Chua Jui Meng were chaired by vocal supporters who continuously chanted, "Bravo, Ah Lek!"

The two were accompanied by six other central committee members who have been lobbying against the takeover. These include party vice-president Chan Kong Choy and Youth chief Ong Tee Keat.

While the pro-Nanyang takeover delegates won the day inside the auditorium, their supporters outside were clearly outnumbered by those who are against MCA taking over two major Chinese dailies.

Since they were not official delegates, they had to sit it out as the debate on the Nanyang issue proceeded inside.

A visibly upset party chief Dr Ling Liong Sik was booed by the crowd on his way out of the auditorium.

Strong objections

Last month, despite strong public objections from the Chinese community, the controversial Nanyang takeover was signed between Huaren Holdings - the investment arm of MCA - and tycoon Quek Leng Chan.

This has led to a worsening of the split within the Chinese-based party.

According to the anti-Ling faction, the deal was subsequently said to cost RM401 million instead of the initial RM230 million as it involved some other acquisition costs and liabilities.

The opposing leaders have also claimed that the financing of the takeover had violated the party's constitution.

Following this, party chief Ling had called for the general meeting to resolve the dispute "once and for all".

Yesterday, the central committee ruled that the opposing leaders' argument that the deal had violated the MCA constitution was invalid and could not be raised at today's general meeting.

At today's meeting, both sides appointed six speakers each to debate on the Nanyang takeover. The heated debate generated raucous reactions from the delegates - they applauded and cheered the leaders they support but booed and shouted at those they disagree with.

The deal was eventually approved by a slim majority of 157 votes, with 1,176 delegates voting for it and 1,019 against. There were 12 spoilt votes while nine delegates abstained.

Small commotion

Earlier, while Ling was winding up the debate, a small commotion erupted between the crowd and the guards outside the hall when the loudspeakers which were supposed to enable the crowd to listen to the proceedings were apparently switched off.

The crowd became agitated and demanded for the loudspeakers to be turned back on, or the doors to be open so that they could follow the proceedings inside.

The general assembly's chairperson Yik Pooi Hong, who was conducting the delegates' meeting, told the members to behave themselves for the sake of the party's image. Subsequently, the crowd settled down after the loudspeakers were switched on again.

Several riot police trucks and personnel were also stationed outside the party headquarters building throughout the six-hour general meeting. The trucks were seen leaving after the crowd slowly dispersed.

Meanwhile, many MCA members expressed their grave concern over the split within the party even though the general meeting was successfully convened today and had managed to obtain the much-wanted delegates' consent for the acquisition of Nanyang Press Holdings.

Asked how he felt about the outcome of the meeting, one delegate said the balloting results today have shown that the general assembly had not put an end to the internal feud as the party president had intended.

"It is not really a triumph for those who are for the deal. The results clearly tell us how serious the split is. I doubt if it is repairable within the near future," he said on condition of anonymity.

Another delegate told malaysiakini that some members are now concerned about the possible leadership crisis, although both camps have insisted that the dispute was not a personality problem between party chief Ling and his deputy Lim.

"Most members are so divided on the issue. Some of us are beginning to worry that the top leaders may have problems working together and getting the members united again," he said.

"Even though the delegates have expressed their stand on the issue, to me, it is more of the beginning of a larger conflict of interests rather than the end of a dispute," he added, in reference to the party's election by August next year.

The delegate's words may prove true as at the press conference after the EGM, when asked whether there will be a purge in the party after this, the defeated Lim said, "It has already started. We are already blacklisted."