Thesun 2009-10-19 Page02 Tattered Mca Must Emulate Umno

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theSun

| MONDAY OCTOBER 19 2009

news without borders

Another EGM to call for fresh elections

Tattered MCA must emulate Umno Analysis by Ng Kee Seng [email protected]

THE ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition’s dominant party Umno concluded last week’s historic annual general assembly, featuring an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to amend its constitution, without a hitch. It also had an extraordinary result – it took Umno’s 2,539 central delegates just 27 minutes to give up their exclusive right to pick their central leaders to 146,500 members. Of course, there were six other major amendments that also affected the rules of the game – all for a common cause and checking political graft – to attract support and boost membership. Whatever analytical arguments put forward, it was a magnanimous decision, disciplined and for the love of the party to remain politically relevant to all Malaysians. Compare this with MCA’s recent 10/10 EGM. It was called to only decide the status of both its president and his deputy. Like MCA’s many other EGMs, it was inconclusive because there was a lack of acceptance to the outcome of the EGM and a lack of respect for the party constitution. Before the EGM, all quarters and leaders swore they would respect the decision of the delegates but what has happened? They began putting forth argu-

ments, various interpretations of the decision, ignoring the party constitution. That is their version of accepting and respecting the decision of the delegates. If Umno members can respect their constitution and make selfless decisions for the party’s well being, why can’t MCA? Parties have a constitution to ensure lawlessness does not prevail. Consensus cannot be reached if members challenge the delegates’ decision and constitution. For MCA, the constitution clearly states that the president can only be removed from office in an EGM with the support of two-thirds of the central delegates. To continue challenging that is disrespectful to the constitution. Period. Embattled president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat (pix) has called for another EGM so that members (in this case, the 2,380 central delegates) can decide whether they want to remove the central committee (CC) members to pave the way for fresh party elections. To say the least, those who objected to EGM2 fear facing the delegates and members for their own selfish reasons. They have bandied about all sorts of reasons to justify remaining in office. All party members are supreme or paramount because they make up the party. Not the CC, presidential council or individuals. Before the 10/10 EGM, Ong said that he will have to quit if he

loses the confidence vote. He has not. Neither has he said he will not. Quitting is one thing, leaving the party in tatters will smack of irresponsibility. Remember when then MCA president (Tan Sri) Lee San Choon succumbed to the pressures of “political masters” and left abruptly without a succession plan? It resulted in a two-year-long Datuk Dr Neo Yee Pan-Tan Koon Swan leadership crisis. Already, the Chinese community are using unsavoury Chinese idioms to describe MCA’s current impasse. They see MCA in the position of “hu shi dan dan” (tiger waiting and eyeing a position). They also agree “yi shan bu nen cang er hu” (two tigers cannot stay on the same mountain). The EGM has unveiled many tigers eyeing the No 1. The status of the No 2 can still be challenged. A sizeable number of CC members who were aligned to Ong have decided not to “sink or swim” with their president. Whatever happened to collective decision? MCA members, central delegates, leaders and the Chinese community view matters from different perspectives because personal interest and agenda can affect one’s stand. It is time, before it is too late, for MCA members and leaders to wake up and emulate Umno’s way in making selfless decisions for the future of the party.

Press Digest

MTUC says revert to 11% EPF deductions pg 5

Gerakan to amend constitution next month by Husna Yusop [email protected]

KUALA LUMPUR: Gerakan will amend its constitution during its national delegates conference next month to allow certain divisions to have more than 18 branches, its president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said. Under the party constitution, a division can only set up a maximum of 18 branches. Additional branches can only be set up on approval by the central committee and after discussing with the state and division committee members. “This is to enable the party to develop faster as we are in the process of recruiting new members, especially the younger ones. And we want to regain our strength

especially in areas where we have won before. “We want to allow for flexibility in the system, but not to lead to misunderstanding or internal party feuds or fighting. The recruitment is for the enrichment and empowerment of the party to better serve and be more effective,” he said. Koh, who is also Gerakan Federal Territory chairman, said this after opening the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory annual delegates conference at the party headquarters in Menara PGRM yesterday. He said the national delegates conference was scheduled for Nov 1. Asked if Gerakan is emulating Umno’s move in changing its constitution to allow a larger number of delegates to choose its

UPSET by the “third force” Chua’s camps standing on which voted against both the same front against their MCA president Datuk Seri common enemies. Ong Tee Keat and former Meanwhile, Chua’s camp, deputy Datuk Seri Dr Chua despite a visible softening Soi Lek in the 10/10 extraordi- of its “topple-Ong” stand, nary general meeting (EGM), dismissed talk of cooperation the two camps are preparing with Ong’s team. to strike back at another EGM Suspended former Pulai being called, by agreeing to chief Low Teh Hian said: call for fresh elections. “What is happening now is a According to a report in mutiny in Ong’s camp, forcChina Press yesterday, among ing Ong to take the desperate the central committee (CC) members who planned to “topple” Ong in last Thursday’s CC meeting included by Kong See Hoh the “third force”. [email protected] Ong has ignored the call for him to step down and invoked his measure. Johor MCA is not presidential power to call for only split into three camps, another EGM while working the situation is more chaotic covertly with Chua’s camp to than the Warring States Pescuttle the third force’s plan riod of Ancient China.” to grab power. A Johor division chief who Neutral central delegates, is loyal to Chua said Chua’s whose votes had in a way camp needs to understand determined the outcome of more about the agenda of the the Oct 10 EGM, felt that the coming EGM before making problems in MCA stemmed a stand. from personal conflicts. He said the question of They said the latest devel- cooperation with Ong’s camp opments may see Ong’s sup does not arise at this stage.

top leadership, Koh said the matter does not arise as its grassroot members have been involved in central party elections since the beginning. He said at present backbone of the central delegates came from the branches, totaling 1,736 members, compared with only 495 delegates from the divisions. “Actually the divisions are not that powerful. That’s why election at division level would not be very tense because what is more important is the grassroot level,” he said. Also, unlike other component parties, Gerakan state liaison chairpersons are elected – not appointed – from among the branch and division representatives, Koh said.

Group wants Ong suspended FOLLOWING MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat’s decision to call for another EGM to determine whether to call for fresh party polls or reaffirm the current central committee, talk is rife that 14 central committee (CC) members want to requisition its own EGM in a bid to suspend Ong. China Press reported yesterday that these CC members want a CC meeting to be held during which they will propose an EGM to determine if Ong should be suspended. Sources told the daily that Ong’s detractors want him suspended for not keeping his word to quit; bring his personal problems to the party; and destabilising MCA. It is also learnt that in a secret meeting on Friday night, a group of CC members agreed that newly elected deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai will chair a

CC meeting during which a motion of no-confidence will be moved against Ong. They will also requisition an EGM to seek Ong’s removal. Some CC members who are not happy with Ong for invoking his presidential power to call for an EGM said CC members too can requisition for its own EGM. Under Article 43 of the party constitution, the CC must meet at least once every two months. It can be held at the directive of the president or at the request of at least a third of the CC members. Meanwhile, Liow said he was not aware of any move by CC members to convene a CC meeting. He also denied any secret meeting held to plan for an EGM to remove Ong.

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