Thesun 2009-10-14 Page02 It Smacks Of Power Grab

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theSun

| WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 14 2009

news without borders Liow, Kong strike consensus? MCA vice-presidents Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha are said to have reached a consensus that they would take over the baton once Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat steps down, Sin Chew Daily reported yesterday. However, China Press reported that Ong is likely to pick Liow and Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong as the party No 1 and 2. Amid calls for a new pair to be picked from among the vice-presidents or central committee to lead the party as well as for fresh elections following Saturday’s extraordinary general meeting Liow by Kong See Hoh and Kong were said [email protected] to have reached the consensus to work as a team in their meeting on Sunday night. The central committee (CC), which had indicated prior to the EGM that it would take collective responsibility and make collective decisions, is expected to appeal to Ong to stay on in its meeting tomorrow but if the president insists on quitting, the Liow-Kong pair is psychologically prepared to take over, sources told Sin Chew. It is learnt that in the meeting, Liow and Kong did not discuss who would be the No 1 but it was tacitly agreed that Liow would assume the top post with Kong playing the part of the supportive No 2, to reduce the conflicts within the party to a minimum. Sources said the two believed that so long as they can work closely, they would be able to pacify both supporters of Ong and Chua, much like Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting and Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy taking over from Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik and Tan Sri Lim Ah Lek in 2003 to end the Ling-Lim conflict. It is generally believed that Tee Keat and the CC that he controls will recommend Liow to take over the helm whereas Kong is tipped to be the hot favourite for the No 2 post. Wee and vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen are deemed dark-horse candidates for the deputy president post. Meanwhile, Kong told Sin Chew the question of who should lead the party if Tee Keat steps down is best left to the CC to decide and not a fresh election. He said the EGM, held under a year of the party election, has already riled the Chinese community what more another party election. Kong said another party election may lead to further division within the party and another round of in-fighting. He also dismissed press reports that he intended to take over from Ong as the acting chief as well as speculation that he is going to team up with Liow or that Liow is going to pair with Wee to run the show. He said such unnecessary speculation would only cause more confusion and chaos.

It smacks of power grab

Press Digest

Comment by Ng Kee Seng [email protected]

TI-M to hold EGM to address problems pg 4

THE MCA is in turmoil following the shocking and split decisions of the 2,307 central delegates in Saturday’s extraordinary general meeting (EGM). They denied the wishes of both president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and his former deputy Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek. In essence, the delegates passed a motion of no confidence on Ong with a mere 14-vote majority – not a motion to remove him as president. To remove him in an EGM, the party constitution requires twothirds of the delegates’ support. In essence, the delegates also literally sacked Chua as deputy president with a 74-vote majority. They also vetoed the decision of the central committee (CC) to suspend Chua for four years for tarnishing the image of the party by being involved in adultery – resulting in the production of a sex video last year. The CC had vetoed the presidential council’s earlier endorsement of the party disciplinary board’s recommendation to sack Chua. By reinstating Chua’s membership, the delegates have consciously or unconsciously passed a motion of no confidence on all their central

leaders. What really happened? Judging by the response of the leaders in the past 48 hours, it is clear the battle was not just about Ong and Chua. It was about opportunistic leaders who seized the situation to destabilise the leadership to grab power. It is about going for the No 1 and No 2 positions, not for the sake of party stability or for the Chinese community. The leader of the so-called third force which was bandied about just two days before the EGM is still faceless and no one is claiming credit for plunging the party into its worst-ever leadership crisis. There is a Chinese saying ren shi ni, gui ye shi ni (literally translated as “human is you, devil is also you”). Perhaps the equivalent in English is “double-headed snakes”. The party has too many ren shi ni, gui ye shi ni and is now the butt of jokes of the Chinese community. It’s in such a shameful state of affairs. And this follows another Chinese proverb which the community uses on those responsible – hu li wei ba lu chu lai le (the fox’s tail is showing). It refers to the exposure of the insincere leaders. The party constitution is there for a purpose. Without one, it is like

operating in a state of lawlessness. Why the constitution requires a two-thirds majority for the president to be removed in an EGM is likely to prevent a “hung” situation, a reflection of the president’s current status quo. What were said by leaders to lobby for support before the EGM are all part and parcel of campaigning strategy. After the EGM, all must respect the decisions as provided for by the party constitution. The buck should stop here. But the circus continues with calls for fresh party elections. Ong was elected president barely a year ago. Did that solve the leadership problem after the March 8, 2008 political tsunami that destabilised the party leadership? There are no provisions in the constitution for fresh party elections. But there are clauses that allow fresh elections to be called in the event that two-thirds of the CC members willingly stepped down to pave the way for polls. Why would they want to do that just after a year of being elected? The other way, as provided for by the constitution, is for the CC to call for a referendum. This means going to all party members, not the central delegates, to decide whether they want fresh elections or retain the current leadership. Of course, the CC can also “sink or swim” with their leader since that is what collective decision is all about. Lest members have forgotten the dreadful and embarrassing two-year-long Datuk Dr Neo Yee Pan-Tan Koon Swan leadership crisis that was sparked by the resignation of Tan Sri Lee San Choon who succumbed to the pressures of “political masters” and left abruptly without a chance to plan for a smooth transition of power.

Exporters’ Club lends support to beleagured MCA president by Terence Fernandez [email protected]

PETALING JAYA: The Exporters’ Club has come out in support of embattled MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, openly endorsing the transport minister and implying that the political challenges he faces are related to the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal. Club president Abdul Kabur Ibrahim

said it was time that the business community which had wide influence be vocal in its push for good governance and protect, if not support, those who champion this cause. The club is supporting the Malaysians Against Corruption website (http://www.malaysiansagainstcorruption.com) which calls for the retaining of Ong as MCA president. The website, which was launched

before the party’s Oct 10 emergency general meeting that saw Ong losing a no confidence resolution against him, petitions for “Malaysians who want to be represented by politicians who are committed to eliminating corruption in government and society”. “The club feels that Ong as transport minister did not receive the support he deserved while pushing for full disclosure over the PKFZ affair and feels

that his political setback parallels the difficulties he faced as minister,” Abdul Kabur told theSun yesterday. Abdul Kabur is the country’s former trade commissioner to Belgium and South Africa and was director of the approved permits unit in the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti). He said while the Exporters’ Club’s objective is to upgrade, upskill and upscale opportunities for international

trade, the PKFZ issue has brought a new dimension to the role that influential groups can play in ensuring transparency, accountability and good governance are preserved in the pursuit of business opportunities and profit. Abdul Kabur said the club represents over 50,000 companies involved in international trade, of which 70% are bumiputra companies and crosses political divides.