Will Umno force MCA's hand?

All eyes are now on Barisan Nasional chairperson Najib Abdul Razak and how he handles the MCA crisis after negotiations with the warring factions hit a stalemate.

Najib, who is also the prime minister and Umno president, is scheduled to return to the country at 8.30pm today from an official trip abroad.

He is likely to meet MCA faction leaders tomorrow morning, ahead of the central committee (CC) emergency meeting.

The CC will meet at 12.30pm tomorrow, two hours later than scheduled, giving rise to the possibility that Najib will hold a breakfast meeting with the leaders.

Officially, the postponement is meant to allow MCA’s ministers and deputy ministers to be present in Parliament during question time.

According to sources, Najib is keen on resolving the MCA crisis to stabilise the party and also pave the way for an overdue cabinet reshuffle.

Yesterday, Najib, had expressed hope that the factions would settle on a date for fresh polls before his return, but this topic is likely to be reserved for tomorrow’s CC meeting.

Vice-president Liow Tiong Lai’s faction, which has been most receptive of intervention by Najib and his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin, is pressing for polls by January.

But president Ong Tee Keat and his deputy Dr Chua Soi Lek are of the view that March would be a more practical proposition.

Additionally, Ong wants a much later date, citing June and beyond, because time is needed to revamp the party election system.

The CC, many of whom back Ong, is expected to quiz Liow’s faction on their taking the matter to Najib and Muhyiddin (right), instead of resolving the crisis internally.

One CC member aligned to Ong said it is dangerous to seek Umno’s help as the latter had backed the weaker team in every MCA crisis, resulting in concessions being made.

He added that the Chinese community reacts negatively each time Umno exerts its influence on the community’s biggest political body.

“If Umno interferes, MCA will lose its standing in the Chinese community,” he warned, adding that a lot of CC members are independent and will resist Umno’s intervention.

Liow’s faction is expected to persuade at least seven more elected central committee members to resign as he and 12 others have done, to force fresh polls.

There are 30 elected CC members. Two-thirds of them must resign to force fresh polls, as stipulated in the party constitution.

AGM postponement unlikely

Previously, Liow’s ally and MCA Youth chief Wee Ka Siong had said the CC meeting would discuss the possibility of postponing the Dec 5 annual general meeting (AGM).

They rationalised that a postponement would allow fresh polls to be incorporated into the AGM agenda, thereby doing away with two gatherings of delegates in quick succession.

Liow’s faction had in their '1128 Declaration' last Saturday, attended by more than 1,000 delegates and supporters, called for fresh polls be held within 60 days.

There is no indication that the AGM will be postponed to accommodate the request by Liow’s faction. There is also a question mark over Najib’s commitment to the event.

Should Najib choose to attend, it would be interpreted as endorsement of Ong and Chua’s camps.

Najib has the option of breaking with tradition and not officiating the AGM, thus causing embarrassment to MCA and putting pressure on Ong to follow his instructions.

Ong is currently warded at Hospital UKM with stomach flu, but is expected to chair the CC meeting tomorrow.