KUALA LUMPUR, 15 Oct 2009: The MCA central committee (CC) began a crucial meeting today with several busloads of supporters greeting embattled president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat upon his arrival at Wisma MCA.
Ong, who is facing mounting calls to resign after losing a vote of confidence five days ago, has not indicated whether he would step down during the CC meeting.
He has said he would act in the best interest of the party.
The MCA was thrown into a limbo last Saturday after a motion of no-confidence was passed against Ong and Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek was readmitted into the party, but his bid to be reinstated as the party number two was rejected.
Despite the calls for fresh party elections even from within the party, today’s CC meeting could also decide to pick a new president from among its members in the interim to pave the way for a transition.
Current vice-presidents Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, who is health minister, and Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, the housing and local government minister, are taking centre stage.They are most likely to emerge at the helm of the party if the CC decides on who should succeed Ong if the president steps down.
Although the CC meeting began at 1pm, 13 busloads of about 600 supporters from Johor, Kedah, Selangor, Penang, Malacca and Perak arrrived at the party headquarters at 10am.
Despite the rain, they stayed on with banners in English and Mandarin which read, among others, “Please Stay!!! As our President”; “MCA and Chinese community want your leadership”; and “Stay! Support and appeal in the interest of the Chinese community”.
Ong arrived 20 minutes before the meeting started and waved to the groups, who chanted in Mandarin: “Mr President, please stay.” — Bernama
See also: Chua: Tee Keat should resign
