Ong stays, Liow elected number two

Ong said he had directed party secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng to call for another extraordinary general meeting (EGM), this time to decide if there should be a fresh election of the CC.
"I still have a long list of unfinished business involving party and public interests, like the direct election of the MCA presidency and the Port Klang Free Zone issue. It is my wish to see such issues addressed without any abrupt disruption," he said in a posting on his blog that appeared within minutes after the close of the five-hour CC meeting at Wisma MCA.
Ong extended his congratulations to Liow, who was previously vice-president, for his election to the deputy presidency which Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek lost after he was sacked. The sacking was later replaced with a four-year suspension.
Prior to this, there were speculations that the CC could call for fresh party elections to pick a new leadership or elect Liow as president and elevate another vice-president, Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, the Housing and Local Government Minister, to the deputy president's post.
The expulsion of Dr Chua on Aug 26 triggered an open split in the party which led to an EGM on Oct 10 that threw the MCA into a limbo after a motion of no confidence was passed against Ong.
Dr Chua was re-admitted into the party but his bid to be reinstated as the party number two was rejected.
Ong, who is Transport Minister, left today's CC meeting without holding a news conference but told the media to read his blog in which he maintained that the disciplinary action against Dr was a collective decision of the presidential Council and the CC and not his alone.
"That being the case, I had proposed to have fresh polls to seek a fresh mandate from the party, especially when the outcome of the EGM was inconclusive and indicated that the grassroots were divided. The best way out of this situation is to seek the re-affirmation of the MCA leadership," he said.
At the Oct 10 EGM attended by 2,307 delegates, Ong lost the vote of confidence by 14 votes.
"Last but not least, I need to tender my apologies to the people if they felt that I have not lived up to their expectations. I want to assure them that so long as I continue as a Member of Parliament and remain a discerning Malaysian, I will continue to pursue the PKFZ case in whatever capacity available to me.
"To my aspiring MCA colleagues, I must apologise if I stand in the way of your political ascendency. That has never been my intention," he said.
CC member Chai Kim Sen, the only one spoke to reporters, said the CC unanimously elected Liow after some debate.
Asked about Ong's status, he said: "We'll leave it to him to announce."
Since last week's EGM, Ong had faced mounting calls to resign but he gave no indication whether he would relinquish the post after just a year except to say that would act in the best interest of the party.
While the CC meeting began at 1pm, 13 busloads of about 600 supporters from Johor, Kedah, Selangor, Penang, Melaka 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 "Mr President, please stay" in Mandarin. - Bernama

tunku : 13 busloads or 600 people does not represent to actual supports from the Mca members.we have seen last time the "i love you pak lah" stickers and banners everywhere but at last he was made to resign (kicked out). if ong really care for Mca he should not have asked the CC to call for an EGM on whether there should be a fresh election or not.ong should be brave enough to ask CC to hold fresh election and if he is really wanted/supported by Mca, he will be the president again, this time with pride and dignity.now for him to hold to the position is a shameful act.