By Lee Wei Lian - The Malaysian InsiderKUALA LUMPUR, Sept 1 — Deposed MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek today slammed Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat for allegedly abusing his executive power to frustrate grassroots efforts for their own EGM and calling for an EGM of his own.
Ong, who is the MCA president, called an EGM three days ago in an apparent effort to fend off a bid by his rivals to unseat him less than a year into his presidency.
MCA secretary general Datuk Wong Foon Meng today tried to avert a two EGM scenario and has given supporters of Chua until Friday to submit their EGM agenda saying that two EGMs would be a waste of party resources and delegate’s time.
When contacted for a reaction, Chua said that Ong’s EGM, the wish for only one EGM and the deadline was an attempt to put pressure on his grassroots supporters and confuse them.
“It’s grossly unfair and abuse of executive power,” he said.
“Saying that there are too many EGMs is just a flimsy excuse. It was the grassroots who started the ball rolling for an EGM. Then out of the blue Ong calls for an EGM to show that they have the power. It was the same grassroots who put the president into power and because they have a difference in opinion, he tries to deny them their right to call an EGM. It is a blatant excuse of power by the incumbency that will not go down well with the grassroots and will provoke a bitter reaction.”
Chua also alluded to the MCA leadership crisis in the 1980’s where efforts for the grassroots to call an EGM were sat on by the then acting president Datuk Dr Neo Yee Pan, saying that “history is repeating itself.”
Wong told reporters that the date and agenda of the EGM called by Ong will only be available when the notice of the EGM is sent out.
He added that the September 4 deadline for Chua’s supporters to submit their agenda was to enable the party adequate time to prepare as the EGM has to be held by September 30.
He confirmed however that Chua’s supporters still have the right to call an EGM after the Friday deadline expires.
He added that MCA will be holding its annual general meeting on October 11 and the party headquarters wanted to avoid having too many meetings as they will result in the central delegates spending too much time travelling and causing unnecessary inconvenience to them as well as utilising too much time of the headquarter’s human resources.
Datuk Theng Book, who is one of the grassroots leaders pushing for an EGM in support of Chua, told reporters that even if they were to submit an agenda, it might not be approved and that he has no problem with two EGMs taking place.
Supporters of Chua, who was recently sacked for tainting the party image via his extra-marital scandal that was exposed two years ago, are pushing for an EGM to reinstate him and remove Ong.
The two EGM scenario is a reflection of a party that is split down the middle.
Chua still enjoys widespread grassroots support and the backing of two ex-presidents while Ong has the support of the presidential council and many members of the central committee.
No comments:
Post a Comment