By Alan Ting
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9 (Bernama) -- Thursday's meeting of the MCA Central Committee is to discuss postponement of the party elections scheduled for this year.
It will also discuss a date for an extraordinary general meeting of the party to amend the constitution to enable the postponement of the elections.
The EGM is necessary to amend a provision in the party constitution which states that the party can decide on postponing its elections only 42 months after the last general election.
The party elections are due in March, which is only 36 months from the last general election in March 2008.
MCA Secretary-General Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, when contacted, said any amendment to the constitution would have to be passed by the general assembly, meaning an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) must be convened for that purpose.
"It was a consensus among the CC (Central Committee) members (earlier to postpone the party elections). The EGM will be part of our agenda for tomorrow's meeting, which also includes some other political issues," he told Bernama.
He said the party's legal bureau had given its opinion on the matter and this would be discussed in detail at the meeting but he did not mention what the recommendation from the bureau was.
"It depends on when you want to postpone the elections to," he said, without elaborating except to say that it had to be in the spirit of the party constitution.
Some CC members contacted by Bernama said most were in favour of postponing the party elections, either by amending the constitution or through a special resolution, which means an EGM has to be held in order to get the endorsement from the party grassroots.
However, they expressed concern that any proposed amendment to the constitution to overcome the requirement of the 42 months might not get enough support as, under the party constitution, such an amendment needed the endorsement of at least two-thirds of the delegates.
"It's not stated in the notice for the CC meeting but we know it is on he agenda. We need to brief everyone on what the best solution is as there is some concern that some groups may try to sabotage (the EGM)," said CC member Loh Seng Kok.
Another CC member, Datuk Chong It Chew, said he believed the EGM would likely be called sometime in March but it would remain a challenge for the CC to convince the grassroots to postpone the party elections.
"If there is a proper explanation and a road show, I believe such a resolution can be approved," he said.
As pointed out by CC member Datuk Ti Lian Ker, it's not a question of whether you want to postpone the elections or not because the "EGM still needs to be held in order to get over the constitutional impediment".
Umno, Barisan Nasional's biggest component party, has decided to postpone its party elections scheduled for this year by to up to 18 months. Gerakan also followed suit by postponing its scheduled elections this year to next year.
In 2007, the MCA postponed its party elections at all levels to until after the general election in March 2008, where Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat was elected president and Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, deputy president.
However, the party was embroiled in an internal crisis until fresh polls, only for the top or central leadership, were held in March last year where Dr Chua was elected the new president.
However, the party still has to hold elections at all levels for a new term of three years as the polls in March last year for the top leadership was only for the remaining period of the current term which will end in October.
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9 (Bernama) -- Thursday's meeting of the MCA Central Committee is to discuss postponement of the party elections scheduled for this year.
It will also discuss a date for an extraordinary general meeting of the party to amend the constitution to enable the postponement of the elections.
The EGM is necessary to amend a provision in the party constitution which states that the party can decide on postponing its elections only 42 months after the last general election.
The party elections are due in March, which is only 36 months from the last general election in March 2008.
MCA Secretary-General Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, when contacted, said any amendment to the constitution would have to be passed by the general assembly, meaning an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) must be convened for that purpose.
"It was a consensus among the CC (Central Committee) members (earlier to postpone the party elections). The EGM will be part of our agenda for tomorrow's meeting, which also includes some other political issues," he told Bernama.
He said the party's legal bureau had given its opinion on the matter and this would be discussed in detail at the meeting but he did not mention what the recommendation from the bureau was.
"It depends on when you want to postpone the elections to," he said, without elaborating except to say that it had to be in the spirit of the party constitution.
Some CC members contacted by Bernama said most were in favour of postponing the party elections, either by amending the constitution or through a special resolution, which means an EGM has to be held in order to get the endorsement from the party grassroots.
However, they expressed concern that any proposed amendment to the constitution to overcome the requirement of the 42 months might not get enough support as, under the party constitution, such an amendment needed the endorsement of at least two-thirds of the delegates.
"It's not stated in the notice for the CC meeting but we know it is on he agenda. We need to brief everyone on what the best solution is as there is some concern that some groups may try to sabotage (the EGM)," said CC member Loh Seng Kok.
Another CC member, Datuk Chong It Chew, said he believed the EGM would likely be called sometime in March but it would remain a challenge for the CC to convince the grassroots to postpone the party elections.
"If there is a proper explanation and a road show, I believe such a resolution can be approved," he said.
As pointed out by CC member Datuk Ti Lian Ker, it's not a question of whether you want to postpone the elections or not because the "EGM still needs to be held in order to get over the constitutional impediment".
Umno, Barisan Nasional's biggest component party, has decided to postpone its party elections scheduled for this year by to up to 18 months. Gerakan also followed suit by postponing its scheduled elections this year to next year.
In 2007, the MCA postponed its party elections at all levels to until after the general election in March 2008, where Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat was elected president and Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, deputy president.
However, the party was embroiled in an internal crisis until fresh polls, only for the top or central leadership, were held in March last year where Dr Chua was elected the new president.
However, the party still has to hold elections at all levels for a new term of three years as the polls in March last year for the top leadership was only for the remaining period of the current term which will end in October.
No comments:
Post a Comment