Ong sets up new affairs panel, to be led by Chua

By Neville Spykerman - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 21 — MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat today announced the formation of a new party affairs management committee.

Speaking after a presidential council meeting today, Ong said the new committee is to be headed by his deputy, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, and four vice-presidents (VPs).

They are Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen and Datuk Tan Kong Hong.

“The new committee is to look after the affairs and running of the party,” said Ong

Ong added that besides managing party affairs, the purpose of the new committee is to look into the numerous amendments to laws being proposed in Parliament.

He also announced that MCA would be shifting their focus and efforts to identifying and helping poor students at all Chinese Independent schools.

He added that the new party affairs management committee would also be monitoring the RM95 million allocated by the government to build seven new Chinese schools and relocate 13 existing schools, to ensure that the money is well spent.

Liow, who is the health minister, was among three MCA VPs who did not attend the presidential council but Ong said their absence was due to official duties overseas or that they were on leave.

“I know this will not stop many from speculating,” he said.

Among those who present was Dr Chua, who also heads a special committee set up by the central committee (CC), to work out a solution for the party to hold fresh polls.

So far, 13 CC members, among them Liow, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Wee Jeck Seng and Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Hou Kok Chung, have handed in undated resignation letters to party secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng to pave the way for the fresh elections.

A further eight resignations are needed to fulfil the party requirement that two-thirds CC members resign before fresh elections are automatically triggered.

Dr Chua said he did not table a report at the presidential council today because the deadline for CC members to hand in their resignations is on Dec 25.

“I will hold a meeting after Dec 25 to make the necessary reports to the CC,” he said.

“I know how many more are intending to resign and what I know is what I read in the press.”