Liow slams Ong as ‘corrupted by power’

By Lee Wei Lian - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 - Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai today blasted MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat after the latter reshuffled the presidential council and dropped eight members seen to be aligned to Liow.

In a dramatic press conference which saw axed former presidential council members Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong and Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun shed tears, Liow spoke of lofty principles such as democracy and lamented the alleged lack of it in MCA.

“The president elected his own people and eliminated those who disagreed with him so he can have absolute power in the presidential council and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” said Liow.

“MCA is a family at war. MCA is engaging in the politics of slash and burn. The president disowned the youth and wanita. This is a serious matter. And this can be seen as the last straw that broke the camel’s back.”

Liow urged MCA delegates to “rise up” and turn up in full force at the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on November 28 that is proposing fresh party polls.

“This is the time to make a decision to change party for better. MCA must return to the politics of values and uphold the fundamental democratic principles,” he said.

Liow however acknowledged that Ong was within his rights as president to appoint new members to the council.

Wee, who used up a pile of tissues during the press conference, pointed out that when the MCA president was the youth chief, he was still elected to the presidential council even though he had conflicts with then president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik.

He vowed to fight on to “return democracy” and prevent the party from being “monopolised” by just a few.

A visibly agitated Chew likened the dropping of the youth and women’s wing chiefs from the presidential council as making the “MCA without wings”.

Ong however defended the move saying that “as and when we need to reshuffle, we will do it.”

The sweeping revamp of the presidential council could trigger a wave of sympathy for Liow and his allies although response to the EGM that they have called has been lukewarm so far.

Liow however says he is confident of getting the required quorum of one third of the 2,377 central delegates for the EGM to be valid.

“I have been going around the country and receiving warm and strong support for the EGM,” he told reporters.

Sources say however that the situation may not be as bad as it seems as behind closed doors in the central committee meeting, Liow, Ong and Dr Chua had indicated that they would try and resolve party issues eliciting a clapping of tables from central committee members to show “happiness.”

The source also maintained that even though Wee who is deputy education minister, deputy higher education minister Hou Kok Chung and deputy home minister Datuk Wira Chor Chee Heung were dropped from the presidential council, it is likely they will be invited back to attend meetings as the council is a platform for the party to discuss government cabinet matters.