Dr Chua Soi Lek today announced his resignation as deputy president, along with seven other central committee members, in a bid to force fresh polls for the top leadership.
The seven central committee members include Kong Cho Ha, Tan Chai Ho, Loh Seng Kok, Chong Itt Chew, Gan Tian Loo, Tee Siew Keong and Por Choo Chor.
"I hope this will settle the year-long conflict once and for all. I hope everyone will respect the decision of the delegates," said Chua (right).
Coupled with 13 central committee members from vice-president Liow Tiong Lai's faction who have pledged to resign three months ago, Chua's team will thus provide the exact number of resignations needed to fulfill the requirement for the central committee to dissolve itself. Based on the party constitution, the resignation of two-thirds of the CC will automatically trigger fresh polls within 30 days.
Chua also urged the party to postpone the annual general meeting scheduled for this Sunday to a later date where elections would be incorporated.
Liow's team confirms resignation
Meanwhile at a separate press conference also at the party headquarters an hour later, Liow announced that the 13 MCA leaders from his faction, including himself, officially submitted their resignation letters today. Other than Liow, the 12 others are: Lee Wei Kiat, Hou Kok Chung, Yu Chok Tow, Wong Nai Chee, Wee Jeck Seng, Dr Yeow Chai Thiam, Hoh Khai Mun, Liew Yuen Keong, Wong Mook Leong, Edward Khoo Keok Hai, Tan Kok Hong and Alex Wong Siong Hwee.
According to Liow, the total of 21 resignations meant that the central committee is now automatically dissolved and therefore the central committee meeting tomorrow cannot proceed.
He said that the fate of the AGM scheduled for Sunday now lies with secretary-general Wong Foon Meng.
Liow's faction has been been pushing for fresh polls for the central committee since last November after president Ong reneged on a promise to resign after losing a no-confidence vote a month earlier.
While Chua was supportive of fresh polls, he had been very coy on when he would resign from the central committee until today. Previously, Liow and 12 central committee members have offered to quit to pave way for fresh polls and they need eight more to force fresh party polls. Their announcements today appears meticulously timed to influence the central committee, which was scheduled to meet tomorrow, and a private dinner between the four major MCA faction leaders with Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional chief Najib Abdul Razak tonight.
news courtesy of Malaysiakini
No comments:
Post a Comment