By Alan Ting
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 9 (Bernama) -- The turmoil in the MCA has taken a new twist after the government on Wednesday announced the formation of a super task force to oversee the scandal-ridden Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ).
The back-and-forth tussle over the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) between the party leadership led by Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and sacked deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek had stalled in the past few days over the proposed agenda.
The poser remains when Dr Chua's supporters said they would submit the much awaited list of at least 800 signatures required to petition for an EGM.
More will be revealed on Friday.
Dr Chua has called for a press conference in Petaling Jaya Friday morning, an hour earlier than the meeting of the MCA presidential council at the party headquarters which had expelled him on Aug 26 for tarnishing the party's image following his sex video scandal.
Political analysts said Dr Chua needed to capitalise on the sympathy factor without further delay in his last ditch attempt to be reinstated and move a vote of no-confidence against the party president.
"The delay will take the steam away and this will give Ong more time to build up the support. This would not be good for the other side," a party insider said.
But a Dr Chua hardcore supporter claimed the appointment of the PKFZ super task force to be headed by the Chief Secretary to the Government without Ong's inclusion was a blow to Ong's intention to bring the PKFZ issue into the EGM.
"This is something positive for us, his position in the government has been weakened," he insisted.
Ong had spoken widely of the PKFZ issue and even garnered support of the party central committee for his actions.
He had also written on his blog that the EGM would allow members to deliver a verdict on the MCA leadership's handling of the PKFZ issue in addition to the party's renewal and rejuvenation efforts and disciplinary cases.
While both factions had agreed to work toward a single EGM, a stalemate remains as one demanded the other to show their proposed resolutions first.
Party Secretary-General Datuk Wong Foon Meng has asked Dr Chua's campaigners to submit the list of signatures to be verified and also, to state their reasons for calling the EGM.
Ong, in the meantime, has kept his cards close to his chest even as he held a series of closed-door meetings with delegates in various states.
Interestingly, Ong had instructed Wong to call for the EGM under article 30.1 of the party constitution which gives him the advantage of setting the date although Wong had indicated that the EGM would be held by Sept 30.
"The holding of an EGM within 30 days applies under articles 30.2 and 30.3 of the constitution but not 30.1, even if he wants to convene the EGM next year, he can," an MCA legal expert told Bernama.
Wong, when contacted Thursday, said the EGM date had yet to be fixed amid speculations that that it might be held on Sept 27.
Sept 16 is the final day for Dr Chua to appeal but so far, he has remained tight-lipped whether he would do so.
Party members will be watching closely for signs from Friday's presidential council.
Another eagerly awaited event is the Sept 18 meeting of the central committee which wields considerable clout on decisions by the party.
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 9 (Bernama) -- The turmoil in the MCA has taken a new twist after the government on Wednesday announced the formation of a super task force to oversee the scandal-ridden Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ).
The back-and-forth tussle over the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) between the party leadership led by Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and sacked deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek had stalled in the past few days over the proposed agenda.
The poser remains when Dr Chua's supporters said they would submit the much awaited list of at least 800 signatures required to petition for an EGM.
More will be revealed on Friday.
Dr Chua has called for a press conference in Petaling Jaya Friday morning, an hour earlier than the meeting of the MCA presidential council at the party headquarters which had expelled him on Aug 26 for tarnishing the party's image following his sex video scandal.
Political analysts said Dr Chua needed to capitalise on the sympathy factor without further delay in his last ditch attempt to be reinstated and move a vote of no-confidence against the party president.
"The delay will take the steam away and this will give Ong more time to build up the support. This would not be good for the other side," a party insider said.
But a Dr Chua hardcore supporter claimed the appointment of the PKFZ super task force to be headed by the Chief Secretary to the Government without Ong's inclusion was a blow to Ong's intention to bring the PKFZ issue into the EGM.
"This is something positive for us, his position in the government has been weakened," he insisted.
Ong had spoken widely of the PKFZ issue and even garnered support of the party central committee for his actions.
He had also written on his blog that the EGM would allow members to deliver a verdict on the MCA leadership's handling of the PKFZ issue in addition to the party's renewal and rejuvenation efforts and disciplinary cases.
While both factions had agreed to work toward a single EGM, a stalemate remains as one demanded the other to show their proposed resolutions first.
Party Secretary-General Datuk Wong Foon Meng has asked Dr Chua's campaigners to submit the list of signatures to be verified and also, to state their reasons for calling the EGM.
Ong, in the meantime, has kept his cards close to his chest even as he held a series of closed-door meetings with delegates in various states.
Interestingly, Ong had instructed Wong to call for the EGM under article 30.1 of the party constitution which gives him the advantage of setting the date although Wong had indicated that the EGM would be held by Sept 30.
"The holding of an EGM within 30 days applies under articles 30.2 and 30.3 of the constitution but not 30.1, even if he wants to convene the EGM next year, he can," an MCA legal expert told Bernama.
Wong, when contacted Thursday, said the EGM date had yet to be fixed amid speculations that that it might be held on Sept 27.
Sept 16 is the final day for Dr Chua to appeal but so far, he has remained tight-lipped whether he would do so.
Party members will be watching closely for signs from Friday's presidential council.
Another eagerly awaited event is the Sept 18 meeting of the central committee which wields considerable clout on decisions by the party.
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