Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai (centre) flanked by an emotional Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun (left) and an equally teary Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong at the press conference at Wisma MCA today
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L-R) Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun (dropped), Datuk Seri Liow tiong lai and MCA Youth
chief Wee Ka Siong (dropped) at MCA Hq today.
Wee and Chew Sack from CC with other 9.
The MCA Youth and Wanita chiefs were among nine leaders - all aligned to renegade vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai - dropped from the party presidential council today.
The nine are Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong (Deputy Education Minister), Wanita chief Datuk Paduka Chew Mei Fun (Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister), ex-organising secretary Yoo Wei How, ex-deputy organising secretary Gan Hong Su, ex-MCA Information chief Lee Wei Kiat, Deputy Higher Education Minister Dr Hou Kok Chung, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Wee Jeck Seng and central committee (CC) member Wong Nai Chee.
The unprecedented removal of the two wing chiefs was announced by president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat after a four-hour CC meeting in the party headquarters.
Ong made the reshuffle under Article 46 of the MCA Constitution that reads: "There shall be established from amongst the members of the CC a council which shall consist of the president, deputy president, one or more vice-presidents, the secretary-general, the treasurer-general, the national organising secretary and not more than 10 other members appointed by the president in his absolute discretion, who likewise may terminate such appointment if and when he thinks fit."
The newly appointed council members are: Deputy Secretary-General Datuk Loke Yuen Yow, former minister Datuk Seri Tan Chai Ho, former Penang exco member Tan Cheng Liang, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Lee Chee Leong and Deputy Information, Communications and Culture Minister Senator Heng Seai Kie.
Others are CC members Gan Ping Sieu, Datuk Ti Lian Ker, Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon and Wong Hock Aun.
The incumbents retained in the council are Ong, deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng, treasurer-general Tan Sri Tee Hock Seng and four elected vice-presidents - Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and Johore's Tan Kok Hong.
Ong said: "The presidetial council is reshuffled under Article 46 of the party constitution. It is normal for the reshuffle to take place based on current needs. It is unfair to say that they (the former council members) are axed because, as and when necessary, we need to do a reshuffle," he told a press conference.
Asked whether the reshuffle was part of the Greater Unity Plan (GUP) formulated by him and Chua, Ong reiterated that the plan was not a mathematical model meant for power sharing and "it is time to get the initiatives identified under the plan to work".
Ong said the CC also voted to reject the Nov 28 extraordinary general meeting (EGM) requisitioned by Liow's faction, calling for fresh party elections and seeking to nullify the decisions made by the president on the appointment of CC members after the Oct 10 EGM.
He said a total of 23 CC members voted against the EGM because they agreed that the resolutions were not only unconstitutional but the notices sent out to the delegates were inappropriate as the requisitionists had exploited the party's letterhead in the notices.
Ong also announced that Chua would head a special committee to study the implementation of direct party elections and Tee to head a special committee on the distribution of party funds to the divisions.
In a separate press conference later, Liow said the decision to reshuffle the presidential council made by the CC had "made our hearts bleed".
"We are very sad that this has happened to our CC members. MCA is a family at war now and it is engaging the politics of slash and burn.
"The president has disowned the Youth and Wanita wings in the presidential council. This is a serious matter and it can be seen as the last straw that broke camel's back," he said.
Liow said Ong appointed his own people and eliminated those who disagreed with him so that he can have the absolute power in the council and "absolute power corrupts absolutely".
He said the council decided on important party matters and the wing chiefs cannot be left out.
"The party is at the crossroads now. I urge central delegates to rise and protect democracy in the party by attending the Nov 28 EGM. This is the time to make a decision to change the party for the better.
"MCA must be returned to the politics of values and uphold the fundamental democratic principle. The party must be the catalyst of change, and more importantly of hope for the people and not a soap opera of irrelevance on a path of personal destruction," he added.
Wee and Chew wept in the midst of the press conference.
Wee said Ong's decision to exclude the wing chief was unprecedented in the party history.
"When Ong was a Youth chief, he was not in line with former president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik but he was still included in the council . It is a democratic process to give different views and the wings must be respected although it is the prerogative of the president," he said.
Wee said he and Chew will continue to soldier on to revive the party and also urged central delegates to come out and vote on the Nov 28 EGM.
Ong is Corrupted Power-Liow said
Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai today blasted MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat after the latter reshuffled the presidential council and dropped eight members seen to be aligned to Liow.
In a dramatic press conference which saw axed former presidential council members Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong and Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun shed tears, Liow spoke of lofty principles such as democracy and lamented the alleged lack of it in MCA.
“The president elected his own people and eliminated those who disagreed with him so he can have absolute power in the presidential council and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” said Liow.
“MCA is a family at war. MCA is engaging in the politics of slash and burn. The president disowned the youth and wanita. This is a serious matter. And this can be seen as the last straw that broke the camel’s back.”
Liow urged MCA delegates to “rise up” and turn up in full force at the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on November 28 that is proposing fresh party polls.
“This is the time to make a decision to change party for better. MCA must return to the politics of values and uphold the fundamental democratic principles,” he said.
Liow however acknowledged that Ong was within his rights as president to appoint new members to the council.
Wee, who used up a pile of tissues during the press conference, pointed out that when the MCA president was the youth chief, he was still elected to the presidential council even though he had conflicts with then president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik.
He vowed to fight on to “return democracy” and prevent the party from being “monopolised” by just a few.
A visibly agitated Chew likened the dropping of the youth and women’s wing chiefs from the presidential council as making the “MCA without wings”.
Ong however defended the move saying that “as and when we need to reshuffle, we will do it.”
The sweeping revamp of the presidential council could trigger a wave of sympathy for Liow and his allies although response to the EGM that they have called has been lukewarm so far.
Liow however says he is confident of getting the required quorum of one third of the 2,377 central delegates for the EGM to be valid.
“I have been going around the country and receiving warm and strong support for the EGM,” he told reporters.
Sources say however that the situation may not be as bad as it seems as behind closed doors in the central committee meeting, Liow, Ong and Dr Chua had indicated that they would try and resolve party issues eliciting a clapping of tables from central committee members to show “happiness.”
The source also maintained that even though Wee who is deputy education minister, deputy higher education minister Hou Kok Chung and deputy home minister Datuk Wira Chor Chee Heung were dropped from the presidential council, it is likely they will be invited back to attend meetings as the council is a platform for the party to discuss government cabinet matters.
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