ANALYSIS Ong Tee Keat looks set to be remembered as the most audacious MCA president to date.

His refusal to throw in the towel after losing the vote of no-confidence at the Oct 10 extraordinary general meeting (EGM) not only defied the mounting pressure for him to quit, but led to mutiny among his supporters.

Many have switched allegiance to acting deputy president Liow Tiong Lai, backing him to take over from Ong while dismissing the call for fresh polls so that they can protect their posts.

azlan The ‘double ten' EGM dealt a huge blow to Ong and his former deputy Dr Chua Soi Lek. Rumours are still swirling that the outcome was engineered by a small group of supporters of second-echelon leaders who will benefit from the departure of both.

Unlike Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who surrendered the Umno presidency when he came under attack during a party supreme council meeting last year, Ong decided to burn his bridges and to embark on his last gamble to cling to power.

His decision to call another EGM to decide whether the party should conduct fresh polls has sent shockwaves across the political sphere. It is being seen as his way of fending off a ‘coup' by his one-time loyalists who are seeking a shortcut to boost their political career.

By highlighting their betrayal, Ong is falling back to his image as a tragic hero-cum-lone ranger - one who took on the mighty in the party and earned much public approval in the process. Behind the scenes, it appears to be a different story.

The night before the ill-fated Oct 15 central committee (CC) meeting, more than 20 of its 42 members met at a hotel next to MCA headquarters in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.

Their purpose was to sign a letter of no-confidence in Ong's leadership and to urge him to step down. Signatories included Ong's right-hand man and secretary-general Wong Foon Meng and publicity chief Lee Wei Keat.

Malaysiakini learned that one CC member, who refused to sign the document, was confronted by a group of 10. But he insisted that group leader Liow should meet with Ong, and that the ultimatum should not be served.

Liow later denied that the letter demanded Ong's resignation, claiming that it merely conveyed disagreement on the decision to call another EGM.

Rebellion quelled

Ong, who had obviously learned about the mutiny, came prepared to the meeting. He mobilised 500 hardcore supporters who gathered in front of the headquarters as a show of force.

According to sources, as soon as the CC meeting started, Ong declared his intention to call for another EGM on the ground that the outcome of the first was open to interpretation.

He also said that, since all the CC members had endorsed the disciplinary action to suspend Chua's membership, they should also assume responsibility now that Chua's membership has been reinstated.

NONE Before the EGM, Ong had pledged to quit if he was beaten even by a simple majority. His suggestion that CC members should now take collective responsibility by resigning did not go down well, with many claiming that they had been railroaded into sacking Chua.

When the meeting discussed the vote of no-confidence, Ong refused to indicate whether he would quit. Before he could finish speaking, however, Wong Siong Hwee of Kelantan fired the first salvo and pressed for his resignation.

Others expressed support, including veteran Wong Mook Leong who banged the table and told Ong pointedly: "You should give us an answer (as to whether you will resign); you must honour your pledge."

Ong shot back sarcastically: "Although the dead (person) has not being buried, some have already started to stage a coup."

His loyalist Heng Seai Kie, almost in tears, suggested that Ong had only "fallen ill" and that the CC should instead look for a way to cure him.

MCA Wanita chief Chew Mei Fun and party spokesperson Wong Nai Chee then stood up to demand Ong's resignation.

Under pressure, Ong suddenly issued a threat: "Stop pressuring me, don't force me to reveal the truth!"

His words send chills down the spines of members, who fell silent.

Liow's victory

The CC then moved on to discuss the vacancy for the deputy presidency. A handful of Chua's supporters tried in vain to stop a replacement from being chosen, but 15 members requested a secret ballot.

Perak exco member Mah Hang Soon nominated Kong Chor Ha who had won the highest number of votes in the contest for vice-presidents, but he declined.

NONE When Liow's name was proposed, another vice-president Tan Kok Hong immediately proposed that the nominations be closed. Liow therefore won uncontested.

Ong instructed Foon Meng to call another EGM and proposed a resolution: that the CC be dissolved or the current leadership be reaffirmed.

Loyalists maintained that Ong was exercising his presidential power under the party constitution and that he should not be questioned.

Liow's supporters, though, argued that the proposed resolution for EGM 2 would go against the constitution as the CC can only be dissolved if two-thirds of its members step down.

When the meeting ended, Liow did not appear to be happy despite having received the support of the majority of the CC. By then, Ong's camp was already sending out text-messages accusing him of betrayal.

Liow and other heavyweight leaders - including Youth chief Wee Ka Siong, Kong and Ng Yen Yen - were forced to meet at another hotel after the meeting.

At a press conference, Liow denied that he was staging a coup. But the damage had been done to his carefully nurtured image, as he and the others had been portrayed as being greedy for power and ungrateful to Ong.

The Chua faction is set to benefit from the infighting between Ong and Liow. It has been calling for fresh polls from Day One and can expect to make a clean sweep of posts if Ong's faction disintegrates.

Its spokesperson Tan Chai Ho has already announced that it is seeking the view of the Registrar of Societies as to whether the deputy president's post is deemed to be vacant. This may create a mountain of legal challenges.

Unfinished business

CC members aligned to Liow have also issued an ultimatum to Ong - if he does not call off the EGM 2, they are prepared to call for another CC meeting. To be chaired by Liow, this will attempt to deliver a vote of no-confidence against Ong.

The MCA constitution states that the president can only be removed by a vote from at least two-thirds of national delegates at an EGM.

NONE However, two-thirds of the CC can suspend the membership of any elected member under Article 45.2. Paradoxically Chua was suspended under the same provision.

It is learnt that premier and Barisan Nasional head Najib Abdul Razak has received the letter of no-confidence against Ong, signed by the majority of the CC members.

Thus the ball is now in Najib's court. Will he reprise then premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's drastic move in the 1980s to strip MCA president Neo Yee Pan of his ministerial post, in order to end infighting?

Ong and Chua carry much baggage, which could allow Najib to pressure them to give way to Liow. Both, though, are likely to resist this.

Ong has been accused of receiving RM10 million in political donations from Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd boss Tiong King Sing, who is being investigated by the MACC. Ong responded by filing a RM500 million defamation suit against Tiong.

Chua's DVD sex scandal resurfaced early this year, but he attributed this to political sabotage by his enemies.

Umno leaders had openly greeted Liow as the new MCA head after the EGM, but will this come to fruition?