KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 — MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai’s faction in the party has been advised to withdraw its resolutions for the coming annual general meeting (AGM) as they were deemed “unconstitutional, central committee member Datuk Ti Lian Ker said today.
Among the resolutions put forward by the faction was a call for the central committee to be dissolved to pave the way for fresh polls, as well as a suggestion to amend the party constitution to standardise the appointment and removal of executive office bearers and their deputies by the party president.In an immediate response, Liow told The Malaysian Insider that this did not mean delegates would not have other avenues to voice their grievances against the party’s top two leaders.
“Whether there is a resolution or not, they can still debate on the matter. There are still avenues for them to raise the issue.
“Whatever it is, we want to solve the problem — we are not creating further problems for the MCA,” he said this evening.
Liow also said that if the crisis could be solved before the AGM on March 7, then the issue of the resolutions would not be relevant.
“We want to save the party and make sure that it is intact again. I am voicing out the views of the delegates here.
“Never mind, the AGM is the highest decision-making authority so let us just wait to hear their views. If they want them (president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and deputy Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek) to lead, then they will give them the mandate,” he said.
Liow added that if a new mandate was allowed to be given then “at least he (Ong) can leave the party honourably”.
“I think he thinks this, too. As a leader, he has to make his members proud. If not, then [there is] no point being a leader.
“Do you think the members are proud now?” he asked.
In a press conference here after the party’s presidential council (PC) meeting this afternoon, Ti, who is aligned with Ong, said it would be best for the requisitionists to withdraw the resolutions as they had failed to comply with the party’s constitution. He added that the failure to comply with the provisions in the constitution meant that the PC had no need to decide on the resolutions and that they would ultimately be rejected during the coming central committee meeting this March 5.
“We advise the requisitionists to withdraw in accordance with the provisions in the constitution. Article 168 stipulates that any resolution on amendments to the constitution needs to be duly adopted by the central committee first or by the respective divisional assembly.
“The other resolution (calling for the central committee to dissolve and hold fresh polls) is unconstitutional and ultra vires because as far as the previous EGM (extraordinary general meeting) is concerned, the constitution states that the position of the president and deputy president is still rightful,” said Ti.
He added that if the resolutions were allowed to be put forth in the coming AGM on March 7, it would just “make a mockery of the AGM”.
“It is a frivolous and vexatious act so it is better for the resolutions to be withdrawn.
“We have to be professional here — we cannot make a decision on something that is unconstitutional. A clear example would be tabling a motion in Parliament that is unconstitutional. If the administration accepts such a motion in the first place, it would make a mockery of Parliament,” explained Ti.
During the press conference earlier, Ong told reporters that ultimately, the decision on the resolutions would lie in the hands of the central committee.
“In today’s meeting (PC), it was more like a brainstorming session to exchange views on some of the points raised but we are not in a haste to make any final decisions.
“The party constitution states that a CC meeting must be held before the party AGM so the decision will be made there and then,” Ong said.
Meanwhile, MCA Youth chief Datuk Wee Ka Siong, who is backing Liow, laughed when he was told of Ti’s suggestion.
“My response? I laugh. This entire issue here is a matter of principle — we are not here to fight but as a politician, we need to have guiding principles. If upholding our principles is construed as a wrongdoing then... I laugh,” he told The Malaysian Insider.
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