Soi Lek dares Liow to hold EGM

Deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek has challenged vice-president Liow Tiong Lai to convene an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to push for fresh polls.

Chua said if Liow was confident that the majority of party member back fresh polls, he should convene an EGM, in view of the central committee's refusal to resign to force fresh polls.

"Just do it lah. Don't talk about fresh polls everyday. People outside now hate us. They are saying MCA nothing to do accept talk about fresh polls," he told a press conference at the party headquarters today after chairing the party management committee.

Chua (left) was responding to a press conference by Liow and his supporters just 30-minutes earlier, held on another floor of the same building, who again reiterated the necessity for fresh polls.

"We want to remind the central committee, that they resolved to have fresh polls on Dec 12, thus necessitating the formation of a special committee to study several issues concerning fresh elections," said Liow, reading from a written statement.

He said that based on the Dec 12 meeting, only a few are opposed to fresh polls and the current situation now appeared as though the top party leadership do not respect the central committee's decision.

Liow also lashed out at Chua for failing to fulfill repeated promises of resigning.

'Liow thinks he is president'

Told about Liow's criticism, Chua grew visibly irate and said central committee members are not beholden to the former's time frame for resignations.

"You see, the problem with Liow (right) Tiong Lai is he behaves like he is the president of MCA. Whatever he says others must follow," said Chua.

He said Liow was now trying to imply that the special committee was trying to delay fresh polls from being held, since not all of the committee members have submitted resignation letters.

"Please do not make me the scapegoat because of your inability to get 21 CC members to resign... It is up to him to persuade members to resign.

"To say that we are dilly-dallying and deliberately delaying fresh polls is not true. We (special committee) have no such powers. If eight more resign, we can have fresh elections (today).

"Why blame me? Is Liow saying that I'm so influential, that the fresh polls is dependent on Chua Soi Lek? That is not fair," said Chua.

Liow promises 'further action'

Chua ended his press conference with a parting shot at Liow: "If you want to be the big brother, you must behave like one."

Earlier, Liow said his supporters would take "further action" soon, but refused to give details.

He refused to confirm if he and his supporters are considering seeking the endorsement of two-thirds of central delegates to convene an EGM.

He, however, revealed that this has been requested by some party grassroots who are growning impatient.

Liow's faction is pushing for fresh polls to be held as soon as possible in reaction to the no-confidence vote passed against president Ong Tee Keat at an EGM in October.

Ong has steadfastly refused to quit despite promising to vacate his post should he lose by even one vote, citing there was no legal necessity for him to do so.