MCA AGM - leadership squabbles, worsening rift worry delegates
An overwhelming feeling of concern dominated MCA's 48th annual general meeting (AGM) today as delegates expressed their dismay over the worsening split in the party and chaos which reigned at the youth wing's meeting yesterday.
Six resolutions were unanimously adopted, including one which called for the setting up of a special committee to review the party constitution and make recommendations for amendments.
This was in response to a large number of proposed resolutions received prior to the AGM which called for amendments to the party constitution in order to impose term limits on key posts, including the president's.
The other resolutions touched on politics, economy, education, religion and social development. A total of 1,832 delegates out of 2,372 attended the meeting.
During the three-hour debate on the presidential address and the resolutions, most of the 16 delegates who participated, expressed views that the ongoing division among party leaders and members was a result of the fight for party posts.
Some of them also requested the party to negotiate for more ministerial posts in the coming general elections. MCA currently has four ministers and six deputy ministers in the Cabinet.
Grand applause
Penang Wanita chief Ooi Siew Kim stole the thunder when she argued that even a three-term limit for party posts, as proposed by certain quarters, was "too much".
She suggested that a one-term limitation be imposed instead. "That's why we have our party election every three years. We have the right to determine our leaders," she said.
Ooi said term limits should also be extended to ministerial posts, which she denounced as "the source of all fights within the party".
There are many talented and potential delegates who could replace the current leaders, said Ooi, prompting a grand round of applause from the floor.
Since last year, MCA has been embroiled in a bitter internal conflict between the top leaders and this compounded when the party acquired two Chinese dailies, despite strong public objection, through its investment arm Huaren Holdings in late May.
Its president Dr Ling Liong Sik and his supporters said the investment would benefit the party but his opponents led by party deputy chief Lim Ah Lek claimed that the deal was against the Chinese ethnic's wishes.
However, an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) held on June 24 saw the deal being endorsed with a slim majority of votes.
Constant squabbles
In his speech today, a Pahang MCA delegate said that the top leaders were engrossed in their internal conflict of interests and no longer had time to deal with the issues affecting the Chinese Malaysian.
He said the power struggle at the top level should not wreck the friendship at the grassroots level.
Another delegate from Melaka lambasted the leaders for failing to understand how their constant squabbles and mud-slinging had affected the members. He urged the leaders to bury the hatchet and start co-operating again.
Meanwhile, several delegates took MCA Youth chief Ong Tee Keat to task for the ruckus at the Youth AGM which was marred by flying chairs and fistfights. The dramatic meeting also saw the sacking of two key Youth leaders, secretary-general Yeow Teong Look and vice-chief Loh Seng Kok.
They questioned Ong's competency as a leader and claimed that the "embarrassing" incident was a result of the latter's "arrogance".
However, at the question-and-answer session later, Ong, who was among the party's key leaders who opposed the Nanyang deal, told the delegates that he should not be blamed for the fracas.
"If a person throws a party and somebody else comes to spoil the fun, will we blame the host?" the Youth chief asked his detractors.
No split
An overwhelming feeling of concern dominated MCA's 48th annual general meeting (AGM) today as delegates expressed their dismay over the worsening split in the party and chaos which reigned at the youth wing's meeting yesterday.
Six resolutions were unanimously adopted, including one which called for the setting up of a special committee to review the party constitution and make recommendations for amendments.
This was in response to a large number of proposed resolutions received prior to the AGM which called for amendments to the party constitution in order to impose term limits on key posts, including the president's.
The other resolutions touched on politics, economy, education, religion and social development. A total of 1,832 delegates out of 2,372 attended the meeting.
During the three-hour debate on the presidential address and the resolutions, most of the 16 delegates who participated, expressed views that the ongoing division among party leaders and members was a result of the fight for party posts.
Some of them also requested the party to negotiate for more ministerial posts in the coming general elections. MCA currently has four ministers and six deputy ministers in the Cabinet.
Grand applause
Penang Wanita chief Ooi Siew Kim stole the thunder when she argued that even a three-term limit for party posts, as proposed by certain quarters, was "too much".
She suggested that a one-term limitation be imposed instead. "That's why we have our party election every three years. We have the right to determine our leaders," she said.
Ooi said term limits should also be extended to ministerial posts, which she denounced as "the source of all fights within the party".
There are many talented and potential delegates who could replace the current leaders, said Ooi, prompting a grand round of applause from the floor.
Since last year, MCA has been embroiled in a bitter internal conflict between the top leaders and this compounded when the party acquired two Chinese dailies, despite strong public objection, through its investment arm Huaren Holdings in late May.
Its president Dr Ling Liong Sik and his supporters said the investment would benefit the party but his opponents led by party deputy chief Lim Ah Lek claimed that the deal was against the Chinese ethnic's wishes.
However, an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) held on June 24 saw the deal being endorsed with a slim majority of votes.
Constant squabbles
In his speech today, a Pahang MCA delegate said that the top leaders were engrossed in their internal conflict of interests and no longer had time to deal with the issues affecting the Chinese Malaysian.
He said the power struggle at the top level should not wreck the friendship at the grassroots level.
Another delegate from Melaka lambasted the leaders for failing to understand how their constant squabbles and mud-slinging had affected the members. He urged the leaders to bury the hatchet and start co-operating again.
Meanwhile, several delegates took MCA Youth chief Ong Tee Keat to task for the ruckus at the Youth AGM which was marred by flying chairs and fistfights. The dramatic meeting also saw the sacking of two key Youth leaders, secretary-general Yeow Teong Look and vice-chief Loh Seng Kok.
They questioned Ong's competency as a leader and claimed that the "embarrassing" incident was a result of the latter's "arrogance".
However, at the question-and-answer session later, Ong, who was among the party's key leaders who opposed the Nanyang deal, told the delegates that he should not be blamed for the fracas.
"If a person throws a party and somebody else comes to spoil the fun, will we blame the host?" the Youth chief asked his detractors.
No split
At a press conference after the AGM, party president Dr Ling Liong Sik denied there was a split within the party.
"The delegates did not say there was a split. They were merely voicing out (their opinions) to make sure that there is no such problem," he said.
Asked if he foresees a vigorous contest for power at the coming party elections scheduled for next August, Ling replied, "I never like to speculate on these things."
However, political pundits have predicted that the widening division within MCA in the recent years is a prelude to what lies in store during the party elections.
There is wide speculation that party vice-president Chua Jui Meng, who was also one of Ling's Nanyang opponents, has cast his eyes on the MCA presidency.
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