Ong Tee Keat has "unfinished business" involving MCA

I would like to thank my supporters from all races and all walks of life who have shown deep concern and showered me kind words and encouragement following the MCA 10/10 EGM. I am heartened by the call urging me to stay as President of the Party

Over the years, my political career has been guided by my conscience and the peoples’ 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 with regard to the outcome of the EGM.

Nonetheless, the disciplinary action was a collective decision of the Presidential Council and Central Committee. 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 poll was dashed because certain quarters are worried that I would renege on my words and decide to stay as the Party president. This is absolutely baseless.

Because of this, today I have decided to go back to the grassroots. I have directed MCA secretary-general to call for an EGM under Article 30.1 of the MCA constitution to decide whether the Party should hold fresh poll for the Central Committee. The EGM/AGM will allow delegates to end the impasse over whether the Central Committee should seek a fresh mandate.

I still have a long list of unfinished business involving Party and public interests, like the direct election of the MCA presidency and the Port Klang Free Zone issue. It is my wish to see such issues be addressed without any abrupt disruption.

I also would also like to congratulate Dato’ Sri Liow Tiong Lai on his election as the deputy president after due deliberations by the Central Committee.

Last but not least, I need to tender my apologies to the people if they felt that I have not lived up to their expectations. I want to assure them that so long as I continue as a Member of Parliament 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 help 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 and endeavour I had embarked upon.

- Ong Tee Keat

Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat is hanging on to the presidency of the MCA, saying he has "unfinished business" involving the party after the MCA central committee today elected Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai as deputy president.

Ong said he had directed party secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng to call for another extraordinary general meeting (EGM), this time to decide if there should be a fresh election of the CC.

Ong extended his congratulations to Liow, who was previously vice-president, for his election to the deputy presidency which Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek lost after he was sacked. The sacking was later replaced with a four-year suspension.

Prior to this, there were speculations that the CC could call for fresh party elections to pick a new leadership or elect Liow as president and elevate another vice-president, Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, the Housing and Local Government Minister, to the deputy president's post.

Since getting elected in Oct 2008, Ong has been sidetracked by Chua. Right from the start, Ong had not wanted Chua to be his No. 2 because he believed the latter’s involvement in a 2007 sex scandal would tarnish the party’s image.

The situation was made worse when Chua - who was believed to have the backing of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and past MCA strongmen like Ling Liong Sik - began demanding for more government and party posts for his supporters.

The Ong-Chua feud culminated with the presidential council sacking Chua in August