By Syed Jaymal Zahiid KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 — After backing a Nov 28 EGM calling for fresh party polls, former MCA secretary-general Datuk Ong Ka Chuan stepped up his offensive today and blamed the leadership crisis on both president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and his deputy Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.
He said both should respect the outcome of an earlier Oct 10 extraordinary general meeting (EGM) and walk away from their posts after a majority voted against them.
"By not accepting the outcome of the EGM and then requesting the Registrar of Societies (RoS) to interfere is clearly a shortcut route taken by the top two leaders to avoid the EGM's decision," said Ka Chuan, who had lost to Dr Chua for the deputy presidency in last year's party elections.
"They have the moral obligation to adopt the resolutions that were passed at the Oct 10 EGM," he said, referring to the resolutions that rejected Tee Keat's stay in power and the reinstatement of Dr Chua as deputy president.
He accused Tee Keat of lack of transparency, claiming that the party's central committee members were kept in the dark about the unity plan he had forged with Dr Chua which led to the committee thinking that the deputy presidency post was vacant.
Under Article 174 of the MCA constitution, the central committee has the power to appoint a deputy should the post be vacant. It had appointed Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai after the Oct 10 EGM but it was later rescinded when Tee Keat tabled his "Greater Unity Plan".
"So we have a situation where we have two deputy presidents. I fear that this may lead to the situation similar to when Umno was declared illegal by the courts," said Ka Chuan.
Ka Chuan, who is Tapah MCA division chief, reiterated he is not supporting any camp but wants to see the party steer out of its current quagmire and return to its purpose — to serve the Chinese community.
"I think the decision to hold another EGM and hold fresh polls is a wise one," he said when asked by reporters if he was calling for the two top leaders to step down.
His views are similar to others who say they want unity in the party but the leadership would need a fresh mandate after the current crisis.
"I have no problem with unity and peace in the party. We all want that. But they are using the unity plan to cover up the intended consequences of the outcome of the EGM," Ka Chuan said.
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