Chua has until Sept 16 to appeal sacking

Sacked MCA deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek has until Sept 16 to appeal against his expulsion.

MCA secretary-general Wong Foon Meng said Chua acknowledged receiving the expulsion order by registered post on Sept 2 following his removal on Aug 26 by the party's presidential council.

Wong said the order was sent to Chua's office at Putra World Trade Centre and to his residences in Sierramas in Kuala Lumpur and in Batu Pahat.

"Under the party's constitution, the 14-day appeal period only starts from the date of the receipt on Sept 2, which means the appeal period would only end on Sept 16," he said when contacted by Bernama.

Chua, when contacted, remained tight-lipped about whether he would appeal against the decision.

His supporters are currently seeking to work with party headquarters to hold a single extraordinary general meeting (EGM).

MCA president Ong Tee Keat had called for the EGM, to be held before Sept 30, while Chua said he had secured more than the required 800 signatures to seek a similar meeting aimed at reinstating him in his former post.

He was expelled from the party for tarnishing party image due to his involvement in a sex DVD.

Signatures not submitted to HQ

Meanwhile, Chua's faction has failed to submit the 800 signatures that they claimed to have to call for an EGM, reports Lee Way Loon.

MCA secretary-general Wong said that the deadline to submit the signatures had passed without Chua's faction making any submissions.

Chua's supporters, led by Tan Chai Ho, were however at the party headquarters today but did not submit the signatures.

When asked by reporters, Tan said that they were still interested in finding an amicable solution to the problem and were willing to meet the party president.

He also said the party secretary-general would have to take the blame if a consensus could not be reached due to his failure in allowing for a meeting with the president.

"We have got the numbers, but we are getting delegates to sign the petition," he added.

Sources from Chua's faction informed Malaysiakini that they have collected more than 1,200 delegates' signatures for the EGM in support of Chua.

The sources said that they were aiming to collect at least 1,800 signatures, which means two-thirds of the delegates, before submitting the list to the party headquarters later this week. However, only 900 signatures will be submitted to the party HQ.

"This is to preserve our strength. We do not want opponent to see our last card," added a source.