MCA will leave it to the party delegates to decide on any postponement of the party polls.

Instead of getting only the central committee (CC) members to decide on the matter, party president Dr Chua Soi Lek said the power will be left to the 3,000-odd delegates.

“If they really want to postpone the elections, then they must make a requisition for an extraordinary general meeting to amend the party constitution,” he said, adding that a Feb 20 deadline has been set.

NONEAlthough it was previously reported that the party’s powerful CC had agreed to defer the party polls, Chua (right) said that “out of respect for the delegates, it will be better for them to request it themselves”.

The MCA constitution requires that the party holds its polls by March this year, once the three-year term of the leaders is up.

However, MCA is looking at following the footsteps of fellow BN component parties Umno and Gerakan in postponing their party elections - which can often be divisive and financially draining - in light of a possible snap general election.

Chua told a press conference after chairing the monthly CC meeting at Wisma MCA this evening that the delegates could put their signatures down if they wanted to call for an EGM.

If called, the EGM is to pass a resolution to amend the party constitution to allow the elections to be carried forward, if there are reasons to believe that there will be a general election in the meantime, to six months after the general election is held.

Putting house in order

Asked if he thinks a snap general election will be called this year, two years before the term of he 12th Parliament ends, Chua said: “We don't know. So far, all are just speculation.

“But we should just put our house in order to continue to work as hard as possible.”

He also said MCA divisions in most states, including Kelantan and Pahang, as well as the MCA Youth movement, have agreed to postpone the polls.

The mandate to amend the constitution will need the endorsement of at least two-thirds of the 2,377 delegates, or the votes of more than 1,585 delegates.

Under its constitution, MCA can only decide whether to postpone its polls if it is due 42 months after the last general election. But the next party election is due next month, when it will be only 36 months after the March 2008 general election.

Kong Cho Ha to lead MCA in Merlimau

Chua also announced that party secretary-general and Transport Minister Kong Cho Ha will lead the MCA in the Merlimau by-election campaign.

Malacca MCA chairman Gan Tian Loo will lead the machinery at state level and Kesidang assemblyperson Koh Nai Kwong will lead it at the district level.

The Merlimau seat fell vacant on the death of BN representative Muhammad Hidhir Abu Hassan, 54, on Jan 20.

Nomination day will be Feb 26, with polling fixed for March 6.