KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 — The sniping has started in earnest. Allies are deserting each other. It is each man for himself as the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) comes to grips with the aftermath of Saturday’s EGM.
Party insiders tell the Malaysian Insider that there are three scenarios being explored or promoted by various factions in the party.
These are:
* Ong Tee Keat staying on as the president.
Tee Keat’s supporters in the party hierarchy and his allies in the media are urging him to stay tough and hold firm. Their main argument: the party constitution spells out clearly that party president can only be removed by two-thirds majority of the delegates.
Their main concern: if Tee Keat respects the wishes of the delegates and steps down, their days of basking in power will be over.
The main problem with reaching for the party constitution as a crutch is that Mr President said in the run-up to the EGM that it was all or nothing. Going back on his word now would further damage his credibility. In addition, he might end up helming a shell of a party and be starved of a cabinet position.
There is another greater danger for MCA if Tee Keat decides to stay on as president despite the no-confidence vote. His nemesis Chua Soi Lek could also rely on the party constitution and argue that he too can only be removed by two-thirds majority. The end result: a party on the verge of implosion.
* Fresh elections.
Neutrals and those affiliated to the Soi Lek/Ling Liong Sik camp believe that the only way forward for MCA is to start afresh — with new party elections. Their main argument: party delegates showed their maturity at the EGM and these voices of the grassroots must also be given the opportunity to elect new leaders across the board.
The Central Committee should not be trusted to make a sound decision on the future MCA leaders because they are seen as the president’s men. Ditto for the Presidential Council.
Some MCA insiders note that the call for fresh elections is strongest among supporters of Soi Lek, including Datuk Fong Chan Onn and Tan Chai Ho. Fresh elections will give those aligned to Soi Lek a fighting chance of snagging top positions in the party. Leaving their fate to the Central Committee or Presidential Council will be too risky.
* Let Liow Tiong Lai or Kong Chong Ha lead MCA.
Liow’s supporters say that MCA cannot afford another party election. The last party polls was held 11 months ago and resulted in a serious split between Tee Keat and Soi Lek. Saturday’s EGM was another contest which has deepened the fissures in the party.
Instead of settling the succession issue once and for all, fresh polls will further tear apart the MCA, reason supporters of Liow and Kong.
They believe that either one of these two should be appointed interim president of MCA and be allowed to carry out the critical task of healing the party.The critics point out that both these men are political lightweights and may end up as pawns. Worse yet, without a fresh mandate from the ground, they may be viewed as pushovers by Umno.
Best option: Fresh elections. The party has between now and the next general elections (scheduled for 2013) to close ranks. Yes, there will be factions and ill-feeling after elections but at least whoever wins can claim to have the support of the party.
With a mandate, that person will have the authority to reform MCA and chart a new path for this party which no longer can say that it has a strong connection with the Chinese community.
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