Still no cure for MCA bellyache

It was symptomatic of the ills plaguing MCA - even as warring leaders were preparing for a pow-wow to discuss a date for fresh elections, party president Ong Tee Keat was admitted to hospital with "stomach pains".

Ong was admitted about 3.30pm yesterday to Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, issuing instructions that only family-members should have access to him. He was discharged earlier today.

The two-hour meeting went ahead last night at the Bukit Damansara residence of Barisan Nasional (BN) deputy head Muhyiddin Yassin, but negotiations hit the wall. Umno's Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (right) was present as well.

Chinese media reports today said MCA deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek and vice-president Liow Tiong Lai failed to agree on several issues.

Secretary-general Wong Foon Meng, vice-presidents Kong Cho Ha, Ng Yen Yen and Tan Kok Hong attended the meeting, which ended at 11.30pm with all six refusing to reveal the outcome.

Kong and Ng are seen as aligned to Chua, while Tan has openly declared support for Liow. Wong is deemed to be Ong's trusted lieutenant.

Re-establish control

It is learnt that Chua is adamant that the earliest date for fresh polls should be in March next year, while Liow insists on January. The timing is crucial, as each is seeking to exert influence on the results.

Liow's faction is said to be gaining momentum among the grassroots because of dissatisfaction with Ong's drastic action to drop Liow's supporters from the presidential council.

Chua, who was recently reinstated as deputy president last month after burying the hatchet with Ong, need time to re-establish control of the central machinery.

He recently claimed credit for the party's decision to disburse RM30,000-50,000 to each division.

Chua (left) also proposed fresh polls for the Youth and Women's wings, but Liow rejected this on the ground that the leadership crisis has nothing to do with them.

MCA Youth chief Wee Ka Siong and Wanita head Chew Mei Fan are Liow's strongest backers. Although they were invited to the negotiations, Muhyiddin later revoked it.

Muhyiddin, also the deputy premier, had given himself a week to end the infighting, with the deadline expiring today.

It now appears that only BN head and premier Najib Abdul Razak will be able to break the deadlock, on his return from an official visit abroad.

'GM date remains'

Prior to seeking medical treatment, Ong had blasted Liow's faction at a function held in his Pandan Indah constituency.

Ong (right) dismissed the '1128 Declaration' issued last Saturday by Liow's supporters at the end of a special briefing session. It demanded that fresh polls be held within 60 days.

Ong said any call for fresh elections must be in accordance with the party's constitution, and should be referred to the central committee.

He said the date for the party's annual general meeting (AGM) - to be held on Saturday - has not been changed, contrary to the announcement by Liow's faction.

The rebel faction believes that the AGM should be postponed and held alongside fresh polls.