Thesun 2009-10-16 Page01 Tee Keat Hangs On

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Tee Keat hangs on ONG CALLS EGM TO DECIDE ON FRESH POLLS, LIOW APPOINTED MCA NO. 2 by Giam Say Khoon [email protected]

UALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat is staying put as MCA president despite the party’s central delegates approving a no-confidence motion in his leadership at last Saturday’s extraordinary general meeting. He has instead called for another EGM to decide if there should be fresh elections for the central committee (CC). The CC, which met for four hours yesterday, also appointed vicepresident Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai as deputy president. There was no press conference and Ong posted a statement on his blog (www.ongteekeat.com) to explain the decisions. Ong, who said before the Oct 10 EGM that he would have to resign if he lost the no-confidence resolution by a simple majority, thanked supporters who had shown deep concern and encouraged him following the EGM. He said he was heartened by calls urging him to stay as party president. “Over the years, my political career has been guided by my conscience and the people’s aspirations. “People who know me well know that I uphold my principles in my political practice. It has never been my practice to renege on my words, including what I had pledged earlier

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with regard to the outcome of the EGM,” he said. He said that the disciplinary action to suspend former deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek for tarnishing the party’s image was a collective decision of the party presidential council and CC. “Hence, the onus and responsibility is not on me alone, but collectively. That being the case, I had proposed to have fresh polls to seek a fresh mandate from the party, especially the outcome of the EGM was inconclusive and indicate that the grassroots were divided. “The best way out of this situation is to seek the re-affirmation of the MCA leadership. “However any hopes for fresh polls were dashed because certain quarters are worried that I would renege on my word and decide to stay as the party president. This is absolutely baseless,” he said. Ong said because of this, he had decided to go back to the grassroots and he had directed party secretarygeneral Datuk Wong Foon Meng to call for an EGM under Article 30.1 of the party constitution to decide whether the party should hold fresh polls. “The EGM will allow delegates to end the impasse over whether the CC should seek a fresh mandate,” he said. Ong disclosed that he still has a long list of unfinished business involving party and public interests,

» If we look after the

People above self I

N his maiden policy speech to Umno delegates yesterday, party president Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak called on members to transform the party into an inclusive one that puts the rakyat above selfinterest. “ If Umno is seen as a party which is arrogant and ignorant the rakyat will no longer look towards Umno for a solution but will consider it as a part of a problem,” he said.

welfare of all races, likewise the rakyat regardless of their race and ethnicity will throw their support behind us and support our party leadership.

» If anyone accuses

Umno of being a racist party with no basis, they have to thoroughly scrutinise their own reflection in the mirror first. They have to wake up to the reality about the composition of races within their own parties.

» It is crazy to use the

same method of doing something and then expect different results. In implementing a policy for instance we cannot be too dogmatic until the focus is more on the methods used rather than the result.

»

Those who no longer need crutches (aid from the government) and say they can throw them away now need to think about other Malays who still need them. Is it fair to deny this group of a crutch just because those who have depended on it for a period of time now no longer need it?

» Full report on Page 2 like the direct election of the MCA presidency and the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) issue. He said it is his wish to see such issues be addressed without any abrupt disruption. “I would also like to congratulate Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai on his election as the deputy president after due deliberations by the CC,” he said. Ong also apologised to the people if they felt that he had not lived up to their expectations. “I want to assure them that so long as I continue as (Pandan) MP and remain a discerning Malaysian, I will continue to pursue the PKFZ case in whatever capacity available to me. “To my aspiring MCA colleagues, I must apologise if I stand in the way of your political ascendency. That has never been my intention.

“To the genuine party members and workers, please do continue with your endeavour to h e l p strengthen the party but do refrain from playing into the hands of manipulators and opportunists. “Life has to go on and I have no regrets over any decision a n d en-

deavour I had embarked upon,” he said. Liow, who looked grim and worried after the CC meeting, refused to comment on the decisions made. Later at a press conference, he said most of the CC members did not agree with Ong’s decision to call for an EGM to decide if fresh polls are needed. Vice-presidents Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha and Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen only smiled when asked on the meeting’s outcome. Wanita chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun said there was no objection from the CC members to elect Liow as deputy president because his position will only be interim.

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