Ong: Reform or status quo?

Ong: Reform or status quo?
By Himanshu Bhatt

Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat

SEBERANG PERAI (March 23, 2010): MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, who is defending his position in a fresh party poll on Sunday, said today the election provides an avenue for members to demonstrate if they want reform or the same situation as the pre-March 8 general election when the party lost heavily.

Asked if he was feeling the "heat", he quipped: "I've been facing the heat on both fronts - election heat and tropical heat. Which one are you referring to?"

"We are not in the least perturbed or disturbed by any speculation that we don't stand a chance or do stand a chance," he said.

Asked if there were too many splinter groups in the elections, he said: "In the name of democracy, can you stop anyone from contesting? You can't."

"You cannot say that since there are too many contestants, you have to shift the goal posts. That is not the answer."

Ong was speaking to reporters after performing the ground-breaking for the construction of a new school block at SJK(C) Sin Ya in Bukit Mertajam here today.

The transport minister was accompanied by central committee members Eng Hiap Boon, who is also Penang MCA deputy chief, and Tan Cheng Liang, who is the party's state Wanita head. Also present was Deputy Information, Communications and Culture Minister Senator Heng Seai Kie, the party's information and communications bureau chief.

He said the lack of allocations for Chinese schools was forcing the community to solicit donations for upgrading of facilities and equipments, and to construct new buildings.

"I urge the federal government to contribute and support development projects in the schools so that society can benefit," he said. "When the Chinese community collect donations, it does not mean they are rich… The funds are often collected from small-scale traders and the general public who are of low income."

To a query, Ong said he welcomed any action by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to ensure there would be no corruption in the party elections.

"It is important that we do not shower money or promises… This is not a place where you can bid for tenders like in a business," he said.

MACC director of investigations Mustafar Ali reportedly said on Monday that the commission would monitor blogsites and media reports related to claims of money politics in the run-up to the MCA elections. -- theSun

Source: http://sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=44653

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Rupa-rupanya, Ong Tee Keat juga terasa bahangnya......

MCA polls may not end infighting

Columnists :: What They Say - By Zainon Ahmad ( Every alternate Tuesday )

MCA polls may not end infighting

AZMAN: Big day for the Chinese community this Sunday, Chong? Many Chinese friends are telling me that a lot is riding on the outcome of the MCA elections. They are hoping it will end the fractious factional infighting.

Chong: I am not sure it is a big day for the Chinese. It used to be but not anymore. You must have noticed many Chinese have abandoned the MCA and moved on to other boats. Sad, because the party had done a lot for the Chinese.

Zain: I am not so sure about the abandoning part. I am sure many Chinese are watching closely the moves of the various candidates for the top posts. And I am sure all Chinese will be very interested in the outcome.

Chong: Yes, Cikgu. I agree with you that most Chinese would be interested in the results of the election like everyone else. But more in a sort of uninvolved way I think.

Sulok: If by that you mean those placing bets without caring who wins or loses, I agree. I'm putting my money on incumbent president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Kiat.

Chong: As I was saying many people in my community are disgusted by the infighting and the selfish attitude of some leaders. To me those seeking to be elected should really take a hard look at themselves in the mirror and honestly ask whether they should contest. As everyone is saying, the MCA is in a mess. The worst mess in its 62-year history.

Zain: Don't be too hasty lah. The MCA has gone through several near-breakups before. It has also been rejected by the electorate before. But it later re-gained their support. OK, so it lost many seats in March 2008. Who knows it may just come back stronger. It's the nature of things.

Mohan: OK, so the MCA lost seats. But I am a little angry that some people are blaming the party for the reverses the BN suffered. It's easy to apportion blame. But what infuriates me is that they seem to forget that other BN parties also suffered losses. So MCA lost 25 from the 40 it had before the general election but Umno lost too. It was down from 117 to 78. Isn't that a huge loss? MIC was down from nine to three. Gerakan has only two from the 12 it had.

Azman: Cikgu, those people who say that the MCA is in a mess should also do their own self-appraisal. Can they honestly say that their parties are free from infighting and power struggles?

Zain: I think the only party that seems to be almost trouble-free and with hardly much infighting – maybe because its leaders are more successful at keeping things under wraps – is the DAP.

Azman: I agree with you.

Zain: And now with the bombshell by former PKR-turned-independent Bayan Baru MP Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim I am not sure who or which party is going to get hurt the most.

Mohan: Wow, what a bombshell that was. I wonder whether the full story of the Sept 16, 2008 abortive regime change will ever get to be told.

Sulok: If it had been successful it would have meant the overthrow of a democratically elected government. Democratic overthrow?

Mohan: Do you think Zahrain did the right thing? Spilling the beans about the party after having left it? Isn't it a case of washing dirty linen in public?

Sulok: It's a trend.

Azman: Isn't it something like a husband blabbing away about his wife – lousy in the kitchen and in the bedroom – after divorcing her?

Zain: Hello, hello. Aren't we getting a little carried away by the Zahrain bombshell. Let's go back to the upcoming MCA elections. Chong, from your reading of the situation who do you think is going to carry the day?

Chong:  To me all three are not the best of candidates. Tee Kiat and immediate past president Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting are about the same age, 53, while Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek is about ten years their senior. Tee Kiat wanted to do a lot for the party and the country but failed to be presidential, Ka Ting wants to be a come-back-kid because he feels duty bound to do so while Soi Lek, who wasn't really given a chance to be deputy president, thinks he can be a better president than the two.

Mohan: Your vote goes to …

Chong: I'd rather not say. I have a feeling the fight is really between the two younger men even though some people think Dr Chua has something to offer which the two don't have. But the party certainly needs a strong, independent-minded and determined leader to unite it.

Zain: Yes, only he can end the factional infighting.

Updated: 10:24AM Tue, 23 Mar 2010

Source: http://www.thesundaily.com/article.cfm?id=44628

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Hmmmm......

Even this confirms what Insider MCA hears most......

Liow opens new battlefront at AGM

Giam Say Khoon

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 23, 2010) : MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai's faction is staging another "battle" at the coming March 7 annual general meeting (AGM) by asking all central delegates to vote for fresh polls to resolve the leadership crisis.

Central Committee (CC) member and Serdang division chief Datuk Liew Yuen Keong and Padang Besar division chief Datuk Loh Yoon Foo, who are aligned to Liow, submitted a four-point resolution on behalf of the MCA integrity restoring task force, through 10 divisions.

Today is the last day for the delegates to submit their resolutions for the AGM.

Liow told theSun : "It is the right of the delegates to submit resolutions (through their divisions) and the party leadership has the responsibility to deal with the resolutions."

To a question, he said although the party leadership can choose to reject the resolution for delegates to vote for fresh polls, it must be answerable to the delegates and explain why it is rejected.

"The AGM will be the best avenue for all delegates to decide on the need for fresh polls as everyone is already there for the AGM. If the leadership does not want to include the resolution, the delegates can bring in up during the debate and question the leadership.

"They (the delegates) could also move an emergency motion to vote for fresh polls if there are enough delegates agreeing to do so," he added.

Liow reiterated that the demand for fresh polls was for the sake of the party and stressed that he would not hesitate to step down if party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and deputy president Datuk Seri Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek agreed to do so.

"Ong and Chua also have the responsibility to come out with a solution to end the crisis," he said.

Liew and Loh's resolutions are to:

> Dissolve the CC and hold fresh polls until the current term expires;

> Set up the Central Board of Trustee for a more professional and transparent management;

> Amend Article 46 of the party constitution so that Youth and Wanita chairmen and other ministerial post holders will be automatically included into the presidential council;

> Standardise the appointment and removal of executive office bearers like secretary-general, treasury-general, organising secretary and their deputies by the party president under the party constitution.

The 10 divisions they represent are Pasir Gudang, Tenggara, Bentong, Rasah, Bukit Gantang, Beluran, Padang Besar, Pagoh, Subang and Serdang.

Speaking to reporters after submitting the resolutions to the party secretariat, Liew said it is up to the party leadership to consider accepting the resolutions but refused to speculate what would happen if the leadership turned them down.

Liow's faction had tried to organise an emergency general meeting (EGM) on Nov 28 last year but the EGM was called off after the faction agreed to sit down and negotiate with Ong and Chua on the possibility of having fresh polls.

On Dec 15, Liow together with other 12 CC members had tendered their undated resignation letters to push for fresh polls but the attempt was a failure after failing to get two thirds of the CC members to resign for fresh polls as stipulated under the party constitution.

On Feb 2, Liow urged his supporters not to attend any party activities organised by Ong and Chua to pressure the party leadership to agree to fresh polls. - theSun


Updated: 12:47AM Wed, 24 Feb 2010

Source: http://www.thesundaily.com/article.cfm?id=43706

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Wonder.....

You can't be a good leader, unless you are or can be a good follower yourself.... So who is the boss? And why can't these people follow the boss for the whole term and then set to kick him out if he has not done a good job? 

Wonder what will happen if Liow and Loh were in Ipoh.... telling the MB what to do and come out with own resolutions? Funny buggers!