KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- Wanita MCA secretary-general Senator Heng Seai Kie and six Wanita central committee members met party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat Thursday evening to discuss the position of Wanita chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun in the presidential council (PC).
Heng, who is also the party's Information and Communications Bureau chief, said Ong had listened to the voice of Wanita MCA on the position of Chew who was dropped by Ong Wednesday from the PC.
Heng said this to reporters after a candlelight prayer vigil in the name of safeguarding democracy in MCA which was attended by about 70 party members in front of Wisma MCA here.
Earlier, she had attended a Wanita MCA dialogue chaired by the wing's deputy chief Yu Chok Tow to discuss the issue of Chew being removed from the PC and they also resolved to ask Ong to reconsider his decision.
"At this stage, we see there is a chance for this as under Article 46 of the party constitution, the president has the power to elect one or more deputy ministers to the council," said Heng after the dialogue.
To stem dissent in the party which has been embroiled in a worsening internal crisis, Ong Wednesday replaced nine leaders aligned to party vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai. They included Chew and Youth head Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong.
However, Ong in his blog Thursday said that Chew and Wee could still sit in the presidential council as invited members to air their views.
Heng, who is also Information Communication and Culture Deputy Minister said hers and Wanita MCA national organising secretary Tan Cheng Liang's appointment to the PC had given the wing more voice compared with before when Chew was the only Wanita leader appointed to the council.
Tan in a statement issued here said it was not unusual for the party leadership to revamp the PC in order to realise the ultimate objective of the party's greater unity plan.
"The MCA presidential council is a policy-making body for the party. Therefore, each and every member of the council must agree, cooperate and help the party leadership to move forward.
"Pursuant to Article 46 of the MCA constitution, the president has the absolute power to appoint not more than 10 members to the presidential council and also has the same power to terminate such appointments if and when he thinks fit," she said.
Meanwhile, Yu said Ong's move to drop Chew from the presidential council was an insult to Chew and Wanita MCA.
She said Chew was elected democratically by 400,000 Wanita MCA members to represent them, and her status and position as the Wanita MCA leader "simply cannot and should not be undermined".
Yu said although two other Wanita MCA leaders were appointed as PC members, "the person who can truly represent Wanita MCA is the Wanita national chairman".
She said the action taken by Ong had set a bad precedent for the party's future mechanisms, and deemed as ridiculing Wanita MCA, besides bringing discontent to Wanita members.
On the report that Chew might be appointed as an invited member of the PC, Yu said Chew's power would be reduced and she would not have a voting right.
However, she said, the Wanita central committee welcomed Heng and Tan's appointment as PC members.
Heng, who is also the party's Information and Communications Bureau chief, said Ong had listened to the voice of Wanita MCA on the position of Chew who was dropped by Ong Wednesday from the PC.
Heng said this to reporters after a candlelight prayer vigil in the name of safeguarding democracy in MCA which was attended by about 70 party members in front of Wisma MCA here.
Earlier, she had attended a Wanita MCA dialogue chaired by the wing's deputy chief Yu Chok Tow to discuss the issue of Chew being removed from the PC and they also resolved to ask Ong to reconsider his decision.
"At this stage, we see there is a chance for this as under Article 46 of the party constitution, the president has the power to elect one or more deputy ministers to the council," said Heng after the dialogue.
To stem dissent in the party which has been embroiled in a worsening internal crisis, Ong Wednesday replaced nine leaders aligned to party vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai. They included Chew and Youth head Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong.
However, Ong in his blog Thursday said that Chew and Wee could still sit in the presidential council as invited members to air their views.
Heng, who is also Information Communication and Culture Deputy Minister said hers and Wanita MCA national organising secretary Tan Cheng Liang's appointment to the PC had given the wing more voice compared with before when Chew was the only Wanita leader appointed to the council.
Tan in a statement issued here said it was not unusual for the party leadership to revamp the PC in order to realise the ultimate objective of the party's greater unity plan.
"The MCA presidential council is a policy-making body for the party. Therefore, each and every member of the council must agree, cooperate and help the party leadership to move forward.
"Pursuant to Article 46 of the MCA constitution, the president has the absolute power to appoint not more than 10 members to the presidential council and also has the same power to terminate such appointments if and when he thinks fit," she said.
Meanwhile, Yu said Ong's move to drop Chew from the presidential council was an insult to Chew and Wanita MCA.
She said Chew was elected democratically by 400,000 Wanita MCA members to represent them, and her status and position as the Wanita MCA leader "simply cannot and should not be undermined".
Yu said although two other Wanita MCA leaders were appointed as PC members, "the person who can truly represent Wanita MCA is the Wanita national chairman".
She said the action taken by Ong had set a bad precedent for the party's future mechanisms, and deemed as ridiculing Wanita MCA, besides bringing discontent to Wanita members.
On the report that Chew might be appointed as an invited member of the PC, Yu said Chew's power would be reduced and she would not have a voting right.
However, she said, the Wanita central committee welcomed Heng and Tan's appointment as PC members.
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