The positions of MCA president and deputy president are to be determined by the party's central committee on Thursday following the decision of the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) today to pass a vote of no-confidence in president Ong Tee Keat and not Dr Chua Soi Lek as the deputy president.

NONE MCA secretary-general Wong Foon Meng said the powerful central committee would meet at Wisma MCA at 1 pm on that day to discuss the outcome of the EGM.

He said the meeting would also discuss the party's future direction as well as efforts to stabilise the party.

"I urge all party members and members of the public to not make statements or comments or any speculative remarks before the CC meeting," he said in a statement after discussions with top party leaders immediately after the announcement of the outcome of the EGM.

The EGM, held to resolve a leadership tussle, passed a resolution of no-confidence, by 14 votes, in Ong and decided against reinstating as the deputy president Chua who was suspended over a 2007 sex scandal, but voted for his return as an ordinary party member.

Muhyiddin hopes for ‘wise decision’

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said he hoped that the MCA would adopt a wise decision next week.

"We have to respect the decision of the (EGM) delegates," he said, adding that he had been informed that the MCA presidential council would meet soon on the matter.

Muhyiddin said he concurred with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak who had said yesterday that the MCA would be able to emerge stronger.

He said all MCA members should help stabilise the party so that it would not weaken the BN.

"Let's wait and see how the presidential council handles the situation. I only hope that the matter would be resolved soon and the party would return to stability as we all hope for," he said.

Asked whether the EGM outcome would have an impact on the support of Chinese voters in the Bagan Pinang state by-election, he said there would not be any major impact.

On the final round of campaigning in the by-election, he said it was hoped that the party workers would continue to work hard until late tonight and would also ensure that polling took place smoothly tomorrow.

The Bagan Pinang by-election is a straight fight between Mohd Isa Samad of the BN and Zulkefly Omar of PAS. The by-election has been necessitated by the death of state assemblyman, Azman Mohd Noor of the BN, on Sept 4.

- Bernama