Liow's team wants AGM to vote for fresh polls

MCA vice-president Liow Tiong Lai's faction is attempting to force a vote during the upcoming national annual general meeting (AGM) on whether fresh polls should be held for the party's central committee.

Liow's (left) faction today submitted four proposed resolutions for the AGM to the party headquarters, the first of which seeks the endorsement of the delegates to force fresh polls.

Liow's faction has been trying to force fresh polls after delegates passed a no-confidence vote against party president Ong Tee Keat during the Oct 10, 2009 extraordinary general meeting.

This is their latest attempt to force a fresh election after many months of futile attempts to convince the central committee to resign en masse.

Ong has refused to resigned, despite promising to do so should he “lose by one vote”, prompting Liow's faction to revolt in a bid to 'safeguard the party's integrity'.

Clipping the president's wings

Meanwhile, the remaining three proposed resolutions are aimed at changing the party rules to clip the president's powers.

The second proposed resolution calls on the party leadership to establish a Central Board of Trustees to ensure transparency and professionalism in the management of party assets.

The third proposed resolution aims to limit the president's powers in appointing the presidential council and make compulsory the appointment of all four elected vice-presidents, youth chief, women's wing chief, all Cabinet members and deputy ministers, to the council.

The final proposed resolution seeks the amendment of the party constitution to curb the presidential powers in sacking the secretary-general, treasurer, organising secretary and their deputies.

Sec-gen has final say

The last three resolutions are seen as a reaction to recent events which saw Ong removing Liow's supporters from various key party posts.

Among the most controversial removals were of youth wing chief Wee Ka Siong (right) and women's wing chief Chew Mei Fun from the presidential council.

Liow's faction still faces a potential snag with the proposed resolutions because it is subject to approval by secretary-general Wong Foon Meng who is a staunch support of Ong.

"That is why we want to make the resolutions public. Now the ball is in the secretary-general's court," said Wong Nai Chee, a central committee member aligned to Liow's.

news courtesy of Malaysiakini