MCA: 'Third force' wants to be kingmaker

The so called 'third force' in MCA today announced that it had obtained the support of at least one-third of the 2,377 central delegates and could become the 'kingmaker' in the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) this Saturday to vote out both party president Ong Tee Keat the his suspended deputy Chua Soi Lek.

A central delegate from Ulu Selangor MCA division, Tan Kah Choun (right), declared himself the third force's spokesperson in a press conference held in Kuala Lumpur today.

He was accompanied by some 10 MCA members who refused to divulge their identities.

He quoted an analysis by a Chinese daily that if Ong and Chua both controlled slightly over 1000 votes, the third force only needed another 300 votes to topple both leaders.

The formula is simple - they support Chua's camp in the first resolution to pass a no-confidence vote against Ong and support Ong's camp in the third resolution to deny the reinstatement of Chua's deputy president post.

Backed by four veterans

To enhance his credibility, Tan named 13 party veterans including former presidents Ling Liong Sik, Ong Ka Ting, Lee San Choon and former deputy president Chan Kong Choy, claiming he had contacted them and four out of the 13 former leaders encouraged him to deliver the third force's statement openly.

However, he refused to reveal who the four former giants were.

Tan said although Ong (left) was a outspoken leader, he failed to accept the challenge by Bintulu MP Tiong King Sing to absolve himself of guilt by making a pledge at a Chinese temple.

"After the annual general meeting, Ong terminated Chua. His action ignored the decision made by majority of the central delegates," Tan read out from a prepared statement.

On Chua, Tan said he highly respected the former health minister for how he dealt with the sex DVD scandal but he hoped Chua could step down from the party leadership to protect the image of the party.

Thus he urged all the central delegates to support the third force to vote against the duo.

"They don't need to know who is behind the third force. If they are loyal and love the party, they are the people that will go to the third force.

"I believe there are at least one-third of the central delegates who have the intelligence to make the right decision," said the 63-year-old veteran member.

MCA needs collective leadership

Tan further pointed out that no matter who won in the EGM, it would split the party and one camp may even choose to join the opposition or form another new party. But the split could be avoided if both were voted out.

According to Tan's analysis, the party infighting is always caused by two over-ambitious leaders. If both Ong and Chua (right) were willing to hand over the leadership to the more moderate second-line leaders, it will bring MCA into the era of collective leadership.

"This will bring good fortune to MCA," he said
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He suggested that if the duo steps down, the central committee could choose two from the current four vice-presidents to helm the party and avoid a snap election.

He said there should be an advisory board consisting of party veterans to assist the leadership.

Tan contested the Bukit Bintang parliamentary seat in 1990 general elections but lost to Wee Choo Keong from the DAP.