11/03/2009 03:36 PM MCA Greater Unity Plan – President OngTeeKeat sacks 4 Liow-aligned central committee members ChorCheeHeung GanHonSu ChaiKimSen YooWeiHow.
11/03/2009 01:34 PM Strange, stranger, strangest – Chua is MCA deputy president: ROS shocker http://bit.ly/2AUapk
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Chua is deputy president: ROS shocker Nov 3, 09 1:18pm | Malaysiakini
In a dramatic turn of events, the Registrar of Societies (ROS) has declared Dr Chua Soi Lek the legitimate MCA deputy president. The ROS’ decision was unveiled via a letter to the MCA headquarters today, just ahead of a crucial central committee (CC) meeting to discuss the current impasse in the party.
The latest development puts newly-minted deputy president Liow Tiong Lai and his faction in a fix.
Chua was sacked as deputy president on Aug 26 but the CC commuted the sacking to a four-year suspension.
Met at the MCA headquarters this afternoon, the former health minister refused to confirm the ROS’ decision and merely joked with reporters about his rapid weight loss.
He was seen with his son, Chua Tee Yong, who took over the Labis parliamentary seat from his father.
Deputy chief for 19 days
Chua is entitled to attend the 1pm CC meeting should he be reinstated as party’s deputy chief.
If Liow, who has been deputy president for only 19 days, refused to accept the stunning ROS’ decision, he could lodge an appeal against it.
Alternatively, he might press on with his campaign for another extraordinary general meeting (EGM)to decide on fresh leadership polls.
But with the new development today, which included the sacking of four members of the CC aligned to him, it appears that Liow is fighting a losing battle.
In an SMS message to Malaysiakini, Chua confirmed that ROS had informed him that he was the rightful deputy leader.
At the CC meeting which is currently being held, it is learnt that Ong informed the powerful committee that Chua was now his deputy.
Liow’s men out, Chua’s men in
Moreover, the CC was also told of the sacking of four of its appointed members – all of whom aligned to Liow.
In their place, Ong used his presidential powers to install three new faces aligned to Chua. They are Tan Chin Meng, Donald Lim and Chua’s son Tee Yong.
Ong has also replaced information chief Lee Wee Kiat, a Liow supporter, with one of his own – MCA Wanita secretary-general Heng Seai Kie.
Later, Chua was mobbed by reporters while on a toilet break during the CC meeting.
He was repeatedly pressed for comments on the ROS’ decision by journalists waiting outside the meeting room.
“I got to know about it via a letter from ROS at 11.30am this morning. It is a decision based on the party constitution,” he said.
Asked how he felt, Chua jokingly replied, “I am feeling a bit ‘hot’ surrounded by you reporters.”
Liow, who went for a toilet break before Chua, however refused to entertain questions from the press.
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Soi Lek reinstated, Tee Keat sacks four in pre-emptive strike By Lee Wei Lian | The MalaysianInsider
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 – Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has been reinstated as MCA deputy president by the Registrar of Societies on a day when embattled party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat sacked four central committee members pushing for fresh party elections.
These developments came just hours before the central committee met to discuss the greater unity plan for the divided party.
The four, Deputy Home Minister Chor Chee Hueng, Chai Kim Sen, national organising secretary Yoo Wei How and Gan Hon Su, were, ironically, appointed by Ong when he won the presidency in October 2008.
The four sacked central committee members had signed a requisition for an EGM to propose fresh polls.
A crucial central committee meeting to be held this afternoon could decide whether the EGM will be held or whether the entire central committee will resign to pave way for elections or simply fall in line behind the president’s greater unity plan.
Dr Chua was seen entering the central committee meeting this afternoon with his son and Labis MP Chua Tee Yong.
It is speculated that the junior Tee has been appointed a central committee member to replace one of the new vacancies along with two others. However, no official announcement has been made.
In a press conference at the MCA headquarters, the four ex-central committee members said that they were not given a reason for the sacking when told this morning but suspected that is was “revenge” for pushing for fresh polls.
A disdainful Chor criticisised Ong as “ungentlemanly” for allegedly going back on his word that he would resign and that he could not “stomach” it.
“He has to resort to all kinds of methods to safeguard his position, by hook or by crook,” said Chor.
Asked about whether his cabinet post would be affected, Chor said that it was up to the prime minister.
“You have to separate party from cabinet,” he said.
Asked whether they would support the so-called “greater unity plan”, all four protested that they had no idea what it was.
“It was never communicated to the central committee,” said Chor.