Former transport minister Ling Liong Sik charged over his involvement in the PKFZ scandal.

Former transport minister and MCA president Ling Liong Sik, is by far the most prominent politician to be nabbed in recent years.

He is charged under Section 418 of the Penal Code with misleading the cabinet between Sept 25 and Nov 6, 2002, into agreeing to purchase 999.5 acres of land on Pulau Indah for a project, now known as PKFZ, at a price of RM25psf on a deferred payment basis for a 15-year period, at a 7.5 percent interest rate.

The cumulative interest paid would total RM720 million at the end of the repayment period.

He was also offered an alternative charge, under Section 417 of the Penal Code, for the same offence.

According to the charge sheet, the Finance Ministry had already valued the land at RM25psf - inclusive of compounded interest - and this fact was withheld from the cabinet by the accused.

Ling pleaded not guilty to both charges and Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin set bail at RM1 million. Mention has been fixed for Sept 3.

According to a source, Ling managed to post bail today.

He was represented by counsel RR Sethu.

On leaving the courtroom, he told journalists that it was his first time in Putrajaya's Palace of Justice, located next to the Kajang Sessions Court complex.

Asked whether he was confident about fighting off the case, he said, “In the Palace of Justice, you must feel very confident of justice.”

Ling appeared in court at 4.45pm, accompanied by his wife Ena and two sons. He then proceeded to sit in the dock. Ling, who wore a light-blue striped shirt and a pair of sandals, was expressionless.

He is the second MCA president to be placed in the dock after Tan Koon Swan.

(more)

Tee Keat, Ka Ting Accept Defeat, Dr Mahathir Hopes MCA Members Will Accept Dr Chua

Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, who lost the MCA presidency at the party's elections Sunday, said he accepted the delegates' decision with an open heart.

He said he would now concentrate on discharging his duties as the Pandan member of parliament.

"We will carry out a post-mortem; there is no need to make any conclusion at this juncture. Win or lose, we should accept the result.

"To me, I'm still a member of parliament and I will continue discharging my duties; this is my commitment to the voters in the area," he told reporters at Wisma MCA after the poll results were announced.

Meanwhile, Ka Ting said he too accepted the defeat with an open heart.

He expressed the hope that the new leadership would be able to unite the party.

"This is democracy," he said, "there will always be losers and winners."

"I hope the winners will perform their duties for the party and people. It will be up to the new leadership and it is their responsibility to unite the party," he said.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad hopes that the MCA members will accept the election of Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek as party president.

"The members have expressed their choice and I hope that the whole MCA will accept it. The loser must accept it and the victor must also accept the loser as part of the MCA.

"God willing, the MCA can run smoothly," he said.

Asked whether the sex scandal involving Dr Chua would burden the party, he said the decision showed that the party members had put the issue behind them.

"If the members are mature, they have to accept the decision of the majority as in any democracy," he said.

Asked on the possibility that others may not accept the result in the context of strengthening the party he said: "We may not be able to accept but it's not our party."


Following is the list of MCA's new office-bearers after the party's elections Sunday:

PRESIDENT

1. Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek - 901 votes

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

1. Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai - 1,171 votes

VICE-PRESIDENT

1. Datuk Seri Ng Yen Yen (1,528 votes)

2. Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai (1,469)

3. Datuk Chor Chee Heung (1,202)

4. Gan Ping Sieu (1,202)

CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS (CC)

1. Datuk Lee Chee Leong (1,430 votes)

2. Dr Hou Kok Chung (1,312)

3. Senator Heng Seai Kie (1,267)

4. Datuk Wee Jeck Seng (1,175)

5. Toh Chin Yaw (1,142)

6. Tee Siew Kiong (1,141)

7. Datuk Gan Tian Loo (1,117)

8. Datuk Seri Tan Chai Ho (1,114)

9. Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan (1,104)

10. Lee Wei Kiat (1,100)

11. Loh Seng Kok (1,086)

12. Hoh Khai Mun (1,077)

13. Datuk Liew Yuen Keong (1,059)

14. Tan Cheng Liang (1,054)

15. Koh Nai Kwong (1,040)

16. Dr Por Choo Chor (1,037)

17. Tan Ken Ten (999)

18. Kong Sing Chu (981)

19. Datuk Chong Itt Chew (975)

20. Yoo Wei How (974)

21. Tan Ah Eng (969)

22. Wong Koon Mun (953)

23. Datuk Ti Lian Ker (929)

24. Teh Kim Poo (864)

25. Chuah Poh Khiang (851)

Will Soi Lek do another stunner ?

Shah A Dadameah
Malaysian Mirror


DR Chua Soi Lek has become a regular 'shocker' in MCA politics.

After fighting so hard to get back his deputy presidency, his stunning resignation from the post last Thursday signals that he has yet another card up his sleeve to surprise his party members again.

Chua had held various prominent posts in his MCA career, spanning state politics in Johor and national-level action where he had been Labis MP, health minister, party vice-president and a 'now you see, now you don't' deputy president.

He resigned as VP and from all his political an d public offices in January 2008, due to the eruption of a sensational sex scandal, a rare occurrence in Malaysian politics.

Two DVDs were widely circulated throughout Johor, showing Chua having sex with a young woman. The DVDs were believed to be wireless hidden camera recordings in a hotel suite.

He admitted to being the man in the video clippings but claimed no involvement in the filming or production of the DVDs.

He also accused his critics of trying to be 'holier than thou' and hypocrytes.

Turn of events last six months

The scandal, however, did not stop him from targetting higher positions in the MCA political ladder.

So, when the party polls came around in October 2008, instead of fighting to regain his vice-president's post, he went a notch higher.

Against the odds, he stunned party members by beating then secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan and two others in the deputy presidency contest.

Ong Tee Keat was elect ed president.

However, Chua and Tee Keat could not see eye-to-eye and it became an arduous task for both to run the MCA together.

Using the sex videos as the tool to get Chua out of the way, Tee Keat and his presidential council sacked Chua in August 2009 on the grounds that he h ad tarnished the party's image.

After his explusion, Chua allegedly stirred an uprising against the party president and a series of moves led to the infamous 10.10.10 extraordinary general meeting last October.

Some delegates challenged Chua's removal but in a confusing turn of events, the meeting decided to reject his appeal for reinstatement while Tee Keat did not survive a vote of no confidence - by just 14 votes.

It was at this stage of the MCA turmoil that a third force emerged and the 'puppet master' was identified as Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai, supported by Youth chief Wee Ka Siong and MCA Wanita leader Chew Mei Fun.

Chua seemingly resented Liow's intrusion into the MCA's power broking scheme and plotted to be reinstated to the deputy presidency by getting the Registrar of Societies (RoS) to endorse the line-up of elected members in the party's October 2008 polls.

So, in another surprising turn of events, Chua returned as the Number Two in the party.

More unexpected, he announced on Oct 22 last year that he would stay loyal to Ong and the two men worked like brothers on what they called 'the greater unity plan.'

Liow, however, had other ideas. He worked behind the so-called MCA integrity restoring task force with Wee and Chew on a campaign to deride the plan and to get the bulk of young MCA members to their side.

For a brief spell between the RoS ruling and the Oct 10 EGM, Liow was appointed to the No 2 slot.

Marriage of convenience

Party insiders said if Chua is going to surprise the party again, it could be through a marriage of convenience with Liow.

The two shocked Tee Keat to lead two-thirds of MCA central committee members to quit last Thursday, triggering new internal elections.

Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen, also an MCA vice-president, quit on the eve of the party's Sunday annual general assembly; becoming the 22nd person to vacate a central committee post.

Party rules state new polls for leadership posts must be called within 30 days. Dutifully, the party has fixed March 28 as the date of the new polls. Nomination day is six days earlier.

The resignations appear to deepen the crisis in the party although some chose to say that it could end the in-fighting that had been going on ever since Ong Ka Ting and Chan Kong Choy quit as president and deputy president in the aftermath of the MCA's worst electoral showing in the March 2008 general election.

When the two left, they did not leave any successor.

Instead, it was a free-for-all party elections in October , which saw Tee Keat and Chua coming in as No 1 and No 2 respectively.

Since then, one turmoil had followed another and, somehow, each new crisis had centred on Chua.

One school of thoughts is that Chua had been fed up of Tee Keat using him to checkmate Liow. So, while the going is still good, he quit his position.

The other train of thoughts is that it was Chua who had been using Tee Keat to project himself (Chua) as one who has repented from his alleged immoral ways.

Nevertheless, whoever gets elected on March 28, will only be there for a a brief stint since the triennial MCA election is due to be held again in 2011.

Branch meetings and elections at that level will kick off around March next year in the build up to the triennial polls.

On the surface, therefore, it does not makes sense to have a short-term lineup – unless the reason is to weaken Tee Keat's leadership before 'going in for the kill' in the actual polls.

Will Chua do another stunner?

Tee Keat plans to have direct presidential elections and a major resolution at Sunday's AGM, was passed by the delegates, which will will broaden the current base of 2,400 central delegates.

And, confidently, he has declared to the delegates of the assembly that he "will continue this journey' and be with the members through thick and thin.

This of course means that he will defend his post in the face of the twin challenge from Chua and Liow.

Between Chua and Liow, political observers will be more interested to see the movements of the former deputy. Will he do another stunner?

Will Chua go for the to post, which Tee Keat is likely to defend?

And will he work with Liow, so that the latter goes for the No 2 while Chua goes for the top post?

Or will Chua, as speculated, team up with former first vice-president Kong Cho Ha?

And, if he fancies to be a ladies' man, Chua could work with Ng, with support from Chew and her Wanita MCA crew.

Would anyone be shocked if that happened?

- Malaysian Mirror

SHAH A DADAMEAH is senior editor of the Malaysian Mirror.

Tee Keat's pre-emptive strike

Four appointed MCA Central Committee (CC) members -- Datuk Chor Chee Heung, Yoo Wei Hou, Chai Kim Sen and Gan Hong Su --have been sacked from their posts.

Chor, who is Deputy Finance Minister, said the four of them received their termination letters at about 10.30am on Tuesday.

"The termination came as a surprise to us as we were ready to attend the central committee meeting today where an important agenda has been listed by the president, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, to discuss the party's greater unity plan, he told reporters at the MCA headquarters here.

He said Ong had appointed three new CC members to fill the vacancies but did not mention who they were.

Describing the president's decision to sack them as a mockery, Chor said: "On the one hand, he talks about unity, on the other, he has the intention to get rid of people who do not agree with his views.

"We believe, by doing this, more is to come...to safeguard his position as MCA president after receiving a no-confidence vote from the central delegates during the MCA's extraordinary general meeting (EGM) recently," he said.

He said his position as deputy defence minister would not be affected by his sacking as an MCA CC member as it was the prerogative of the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Chor suggested that the MCA hold fresh elections to have a strong group of leaders.

Meanwhile, Yoo said he and his assistant, Gan Hong Su, had given their full commitment to the party.

- Bernama

Meanwhile, the Registrar of Societies does not want to re-arrange the two top posts in the MCA. In a dramatic turn of events - and fortune for Dr Chua Soi Lek - the ROS has retained the status quo with him as the Number Two.

It look like the party now has two deputy presidents pending a decision that is expected to come from party chief Ong Tee Keat.

Dr Chua said he received a letter from the ROS at 11.30am on Tuesday, confirming that he is still legally the MCA deputy president.

The letter was passed to him at Wisma MCA here.

He declined to comment on the status of Liow Tiong Lai, who was appointed his replacement in the aftermath of the infamous 10-10-10 extraordinary general meeting which voted not to reinstate Chua as the deputy president.

Liow Tiong Lai, who was made deputy president at the party's Central Committee meeting late last month, will have to move back to his VP post. Unless he wishes to openly defy the "unity plan" that Dr Chua and party President Ong Tee Keat had agreed upon in front of their boss Najib Razak, maintains that he is the rightful No 2, and hence prolong the crisis.

What Next For Liow Tiong Lai ?

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 (Bernama) -- What is the next move for newly appointed MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai? While his appointment as the deputy president by the party's powerful Central Committee (CC) had placed him as the next in line to take over the presidency, his political future remained uncertain.

This vegetarian health minister is attributed to be the leader of 22 CC members who signed a letter demanding that Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat step down as the president during the CC meeting last Thursday following the vote of no confidence against him in the Oct 10 extraordinary general meeting (EGM).

Although Liow has clarified that the letter was merely to express their opinion, and not to topple Ong, the greater unity plan brokered by Ong and bitter rival former deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, seems to have put his political future in uncertainty.

Liow was said to have been caught off guard by the plan, which party insiders described as a brilliant political move by Ong to check on Liow after he was accused of masterminding the alleged plan by some CC members to topple the president.

Although Liow knew that Ong and Dr Chua had met on several occasions in the aftermath of the Oct 10 EGM, party sources said he did not expect that the two could hatch a plan that could effectively curtail his influence in the party as the combined force of Ong and Dr Chua commands the support of more than 90 per cent of delegates.

On hindsight, the "high drama" prior to the news conference by Ong to announce the party's greater unity plan on Thursday afternoon was not surprising.

The news conference at the party's headquarters was delayed as Liow and vice-president Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha remained in the deputy president's office, just a door away, even when Ong was already prepared to start.

After an anxious 20 minutes or so, Liow and Kong emerged and joined Ong and other leaders including vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, and Dr Chua, who were seated and waiting for the news conference to start.

There were speculations that Liow was unhappy with the plan and initially refused to joined the news conference but this was denied by an aide of Ong who explained that there was a miscommunication between them and Liow.

Ong's posting on his blog on Friday did raised some hints on the current state of relations between him and Liow when he wrote, "I am also confident that Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and other central committee members will close ranks and see the rationale behind the need for an inclusive MCA".

While this may be perceived as Ong offering the "olive branch" to Liow, to party insider, it could be interpreted as "conveying a strong message" to Liow, asking him to accept the unity plan.

"It's like telling you that 'the game is over and that you have been checkmated; don't try anymore... just accept whatever it is that we are going to give to you'," a party insider told Bernama.

Ong planned the political manoeuvre as Liow was seen as "betraying a friend" for his alleged attempt to take over the party leadership.

Liow was known as Ong's trusted lieutenant and to a certain extent, regarded as Ong's right hand man but now some of Ong's loyal supporters branded him as "betrayer" and sometimes, "traitor".

A CC member, Datuk Ti Lian Ker did not mince words in his criticism of Liow. Naming him as the leader of the "third force" in the party, he said also said that Liow was now being perceived as an "evil man".

While the detail of the greater unity plan is not immediately known, it is learned that it will be similar to the MCA peace plan that ended the infamous "Team A-Team B fight" in 2003, with supporters of both factions being given important party positions, including in the CC and state liaison line-ups.

If this happened, it would greatly undermine Liow's faction, which may see some, particularly appointed CC members, losing their positions.

Up for grabs would be eight appointed CC posts, and state liaison chairmen, both of which are widely speculated to be reshuffled soon by Ong to accommodate some of Dr Chua's supporters.

There were also speculations that Dr Chua himself might be given position, including as the party state chairman for Johor.

According to Ti, who played an integral role in bringing Ong and Dr Chua together, the situation are more complicated for Liow now as supporters of both leaders no longer trust him to lead the party as "he is seen to lack the compassion of a leader and seems too brutal and cold to be a good leader".

"The immediate about-turn and revolt by some of Ong's strongest allies and inner circle had pained the president tremendously, causing him to rethink on the political morality of handing over the party (to Liow)," he said in a posting at his blog tilianker.blogspot.com.

Ti claimed that Liow's first meeting with Dr Chua was immediately after the Oct 10 EGM, offering "a power sharing plan in order to get the support from CC members that aligned to Dr Chua to take over presidency from Ong."

However, the plan did not materialise as he claimed that Dr Chua's supporters did not trust Liow.

Liow's supporters have denied that there was such a plan.

The health minister is now said to be in a more awkward position as he is no longer part of Ong's camp.

Vernacular newspapers reported that immediately after Ong's announcement of the unity plan, Liow held a meeting at a Chinese restaurant here with 15 CC members to strategise their next move.

Apart from that, there are also talks that some youth and Wanita members might want to push for an EGM either to reject the unity plan or to remove certain leaders aligned to Liow.

If that happens, the MCA will be heading for trouble again.

As some political analysts point out, the truce between Ong and Dr Chua is not the end of internal struggles in the second largest Barisan Nasional component party.

-- BERNAMA

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

Now, everyone can be a leader ?

"MCA is capable of solving its own problems through its own internal mechanisms. The crisis that the Party is facing right now is typical of any organisation that calls for change and reforms, particularly the eradication of unacceptable and decadent practices. The Party is now at a crossroad. We can either change or carry on at our own peril." said Ong Tee Keat.

"Rest assured I will do what needs to be done in the best interest of Party."

With our naked eyes, we see leaders being followed by their followers and followers being led by their leaders, sometimes blindly.

In fact, this is the bond that ties a leader and a follower as one.

While the dust has yet to settle on the leadership impasse in the MCA but it seems that a fresh round of internal strife is emerging from among the ‘pretenders’ to the throne.

It has been widely reported that a group of presidential council members of the party met at a hotel here Sunday night to discuss several proposals to be tabled at central committee meeting.

The CC meeting will discuss the next step forward for the party following last Saturday’s EGM which created a stalemate for the party’s internal problems.

The meeting of several key leaders Sunday night was reportedly called by vice-president Liow Tiong Lai. Among those present were another vice-president Kong Cho Ha, Wanita leader Chew Mei Fun, CC members Loke Yuen Yow, Liew Yuen Keong and Lee Wee Kiat. One senator from Kelantan was also present.

Malaysian Mirror learned that among the proposals brought up was to let Liow Tiong Lai take over as party president and Kong Cho Ha be made deputy president.

Soon after this was suggested (supposedly by Liow), Kong reportedly left the hotel in a huff – a sign of his unhappiness and surely a notification that he was not one to play second fiddle to Liow.

Kong was elected vice-president with the highest number of votes at the party elections last year. Liow, Dr Ng Yen Yen and Tan Kok Hong were the other veeps elected and in that order.

There are genuine concerns that another round of leadership tussle will take place if they become the Number One and Two of the MCA.

Then there is Dr Ng Yen Yen, another vice-president who has tried her best to stay out of the Ong Tee Keat/Chua Soi Lek fight but is known to harbour great political ambition nonetheless, to contend with.

“She has offered to be the first female MCA president, but no way are Liow and Kong who has backed Ong Tee Keat all the way going to let that woman get her way.”

Also, Youth Leader Wee Ka Siong and Wanita chief Chew Mei Fun may also want to be appointed full minister should a vacancy exist.

There isn't enough ministerial positions to go around for so many ambitious aspirants

Such a tussle for Cabinet posts may trigger another round of internal strife in a party which can certainly do without one for the moment.

Who are the "third force"?

Unnecessary whining and inflammatory remarks and actions that does nothing but painfully afflicts and bring chaos to none other but our very own Chinese community.

If the third force really forms a new leadership through EGM, causing the efforts of the two confronting factions to be wasted, Ong and Dr Chua can only blame themselves for keep attacking each other over the past month.

Their fight has dragged in a lot of personal grudges and bored the Chinese community, as well as the party's members, who then started to look for the “third option”.

The fight between the two factions has nothing to do with the interest of the Chinese community. Instead, they are just fighting for power. Ong said that Dr Chua is desperate for the party president position while Dr Chua said that Ong is trying to eradicate dissidents.

The 3R (Reject, Reunite and Rejuvenate) manifesto of Dr Chua proposed a future direction and duty for MCA but it did not touch on how to reform the political system of the party and the country.

Ong focused on “anti-corruption” but he did not mention how to resolve conflicts within the party, adjust the leadership style, enhance MCA's status in BN and how will MCA, a party based on racial politics, adapt to the two-line system.

Regardless what is the outcome, the history is going to record a meaningless political struggle, which will be as well the most shameful page in MCA history.

Tee Keat is stepping down as MCA president ?

Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat has told his close associates that he is stepping down as MCA president,amid calls by certain leaders for Tee Keat's resignation and for fresh party elections.

However, party insiders say Tee Keat's resignation will not resolve the worsening leadership tussle triggered by the split decision of the 2,307 central delegates who rejected the wishes of both Tee Keat and his former deputy Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek in Saturday's extraordinary general meeting (EGM).

"Only two-thirds of the Central Committee (CC) members can call for fresh party elections. That's remote because many CC members would be reluctant to step down and pave the way for elections," he added.

"Even the president cannot call for party elections."

Already, party insiders say key leaders have started lobbying to fill the vacuum created by the Ong-Chua leadership saga.

The key players are vice-presidents Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen. Others include MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong, former secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan and former veep Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai.

Even Soi Lek and former veep Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn are still harbouring hopes of contesting should elections be called.

Former presidents and deputies like Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting and Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy are also said to be working behind the scene backing their choice.

Sources told theSun there was an informal meeting in a hotel on Sunday night by several leaders attempting to strike an agreement to resolve the leadership crisis.

Among those present were Cho Ha, Tiong Lai, Wanita chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun and deputy secretary-general Datuk Loke Yuen Yow.

Both Cho Ha and Tiong Lai offered to take over as president but no agreement could be reached when the discussion turned heated.

"That is only one meeting among leaders that we have heard. A key player to watch is one of the Ong brothers, Ka Chuan.

"Ka Chuan is thus far the smartest, lying low, watching and waiting for the right time to pounce," said the party insider.

Another who was not present at the meeting is Yen Yen who is said to have expressed her wish to become the first MCA woman president, citing her seniority as a Cabinet member.

Tee Keat is expected to return from leave to chair a presidential council meeting on Thursday followed by a CC meeting. He is likely to tender his resignation for the CC to deliberate and decide on his leadership.

The task of rebuilding the party, which suffered big losses in last year’s general election, now falls on another new leader.

With a general election expected in two to three years, time is not on its side.

Analysts said it is unlikely the party will be able to rebuild in such a short time or increase its level of Chinese support by much.

“I have received many calls from the Chinese non-governmental organisations, clans and community leaders who told me point-blank that it was better for the MCA to ‘da bao’ (close shop),” MCA veteran leader Datuk Yap Pian Hon was quoted as saying by Bernama.

“They said there was too much vested interest in the delegates’ decision, that the community’s interest does not seem important. We can’t save the party from the public perception now.”

The days ahead, however, are likely to remain tumultuous for the party.

Delegates reject Ong but Reinstates Dr Chua Only As A Member

Party chief Ong Tee Keat loses motion of no confidence by 14 votes, Chua Soi Lek reinstated as full member but fails to remain as deputy chief.

Embattled MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat lost in a vote of no-confidence against him while suspended Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek was reinstated as a party member but not as the deputy president at an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of the party here on Saturday.

A total of 1,155 delegates voted for the no-confidence motion, which was the first resolution, while 1,141 voted against it. Eight ballot papers were spoilt.

A total of 1,204 of the delegates agreed that the presidential council's decision on Aug 26 in accepting the recommendation of the disciplinary board and the subsequent decision of the central committee to expel or suspend Dr Chua be annulled, as per the second resolution, meaning that he would be reinstated as a party member.

A total of 1,184 of the 2,304 delegates also decided against the third resolution - that suspended Dr Chua be reinstated as the deputy president.

The results were announced by Speaker Datuk Yip Phooi Hong at 4.10pm after two recounts of the votes for the first resolution.

Ong was evasive when asked if he would resign after losing the confidence vote.

"You cannot simply don't follow what I say," he answered in cryptic fashion to a question of whether he was resigning.

"Any development and action to be taken will be discussed collectively by the central committee.

"There is nothing much we can elaborate on at this juncture," said Ong.

While it may appear to be Barisan Nasional’s (BN) biggest nightmare come true with the second biggest party in the ruling coalition split like never before, it could also provide an opening for the party to move forward.

The central committee may decide to appoint an interim president and vice-presidents Liow Tiong Lai and Kong Cho Ha have already been mentioned as possible candidates.

But what is clear from today's results is that the biggest loser is Ong who while he has not immediately done so will have to resign.

Dr Chua may not have been reinstated as the party No 2 but he has shown that he remains a potent force in the party and Ong had made a mistake in trying to sideline him.

But uncertain days lie ahead for MCA with both camps not expected to give up the fight easily.


PRESS STATEMENT BY DATUK SERI DR. CHUA SOI LEK

I would like to thank MCA central delegates and all party members for their enormous support that lead to my reinstatement as a MCA member.

I accept the decisions made by all central delegates and I hope that the MCA central leadership will respect decisions made by the central delegates in the MCA EGM.

Thank you.

Dr Chua wants to take a short break after being sacked from MCA

Dr Chua, writing in his blog, said he wants to take a short vacation with "family and friends" and rest.

I Am Sacked

Today, I am partyless. I served MCA as a divisional chairman since 1985. On the 2nd January 2008 when I resigned from all party posts, I was still an MCA member. Today, I don’t even have a party. So, my position today is worst of than when I resigned on 2nd January 2008. I did not realize that MCA disciplinary board led by an aging lawyer have deemed fit to recommend me to be sacked 21 months after I have resigned from all party and government posts for the same reason as when I resigned in January 2008. If there is provision for sentencing of death physically, I am sure that the disciplinary board would have no hesitation in recommending me to face the gallows. The reason is obvious why I need to be sacked. Will my sacking boost up the image of the MCA? I have to assume that the President today is as clean and clear as crystal. Only time will tell.

Since last night, my phone has not stopped ringing. Today, I spend my time trying to read all the sms. Probably, this is to keep me occupied since I am now partyless. The press has not stopped harassing me. It is actually quite funny and fun.

My family and friends will be going away for a short holiday. I need to enjoy this partyless status. So friends, give me a chance to rest. People will be thinking that I will be working very hard, but as usual; I take everything in my stride. Hopefully I can live longer to see another day and another battle.

It was only a matter of time for the inevitable to happen. And it did late Wednesday night.

MCA deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek has been sacked from the party with immediate effect. The reason - the damage inflicted upon the image of the party brought about by Chua's sex scandal in 2007.

Announcing the sacking of his deputy, MCA president Ong Tee Keat revealed that the MCA presidential council in a lengthy meeting collectively made a decision to accept the disciplinary board's recommendation to expel Chua from the party with immediate effect.

Ong said that under Article 127 (A) of the party constitution, Chua was allowed to appeal the decision to the central committee within 14 days.

Collective decision

He said according to Article 128 of MCA's constitution, the decision of the central committee on matters of discipline was final and conclusive and shall not be subject to question by or in any court of law.

"We did so with a heavy heart after giving much consideration to the damage inflicted upon the party's image brought about by his sex scandal featured in a DVD. "This decision has been made in the best interest of the party," Ong told a press conference soon after the meeting ended.

Ong also said that he would explain the decision of the presidential council to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who is also Barisan Nasional chairman.

"We, as members of the presidential council will stand as one and we shall collectively be responsible for this decision," he added, wihout responding to questions raised by members of the media, who had waited for almost six hours.

Former MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn today urged the party’s presidential council to respect the central delegates’ decision and reconsider its sacking of deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

Fong, who is Alor Gajah division chief and MP, said the party does not enjoy the luxury of in-fighting and it must project the image of a united party.

He said the central delegates knew Chua’s history and had made their decision in the party election last year to elect him as deputy, with Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat as the party president to lead the second largest component party in the Barisan Nasional.

He hoped the presidential council and central committee will reconsider the decision to endorse the disciplinary board’s recommendation to sack Chua after he was found guilty of tarnishing the party’s image through his involvement in a sex scandal.

He had also denied his involvement in the anti-Ong campaign and claimed that he is just a retired politician.

Meanwhile, less than 24 hours after Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek was sacked from the MCA, efforts are underway to push for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM).

Puchong division member Datuk Theng Book, who heads the 'Save MCA' committee, said today that committee members would travel nationwide in the next two weeks to secure the support of a third of the party's 2,500 central delegates to convene the EGM.

He said aim of the EGM was to reinstate Dr Chua's membership and pass a motion of no-confidence against party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.

At a news conference here, Thean challenged Ong to hold the EGM if he was confident the majority of members supported him.

He denied the 'Save MCA' committee was formed at Dr Chua's behest.

The “Save MCA” campaign had last year pressured former president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting to resign.

To convene an EGM, Theng will have to collect one-third, or 800 MCA central delegate signatures.

“It should be no problem,” Theng told reporters this afternoon, adding that it would take about two to three weeks to go on a nationwide campaign to collect the signatures.

“Tee Keat is causing disunity in the party, please come forward to save MCA,” said Theng.

The EGM will have two motions on its agenda — to reverse the decision of the presidential council and reinstate Chua and a vote of no confidence in Ong as president.