MCA and Gerakan will meet for the first time tomorrow to discuss the proposed merger of their parties.

According to a source from Gerakan, the meeting will be conducted over dinner at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

But he told malaysiakini that not much is expected from the meeting as there is no specific agenda.

He said the two parties, to be represented by their respective 5-member committees, may only discuss the basic idea of the merger, method and venue for the following meetings to explore the proposal at length.

Nevertheless, it is expected that certain short-term plans for the two parties to foster ties and cooperation in the impending general election could be discussed.

Ong's proposal

The proposed merger was first mooted by MCA President Ong Ka Ting during the MCA-Gerakan unity dinner in Alor Setar, Kedah last December. Gerakan President Dr Lim Keng Yaik had welcomed the proposal.

Following that, the two parties formed their respective committees to explore the possibility of the merger last month.

The MCA committee is headed by its deputy president Chan Kong Choy, with vice-president Dr Fong Chan Onn, central committee member Dr Sak Cheng Lum, Youth chief Ong Tee Keat and Wanita chief Dr Ng Yen Yen as members.

The Gerakan five-member committee comprises deputy president Kerk Choo Ting, vice-president Dr S Vijayaratnam, secretary-general Chia Kwang Chye, Youth chief Mah Siew Keong and Wanita chief Rhina Bhar.

The Chinese-based MCA, established in 1949, has about 1.02 million members and is the second-largest BN component party. The 36-year-old Gerakan has approximately 250,000 members and was founded as a multi-racial party.

Education task force

Meanwhile, the three-member committees from MCA and Gerakan set up to handle the relocation of 15 under-enrolled Chinese primary schools will also meet tomorrow morning.

MCA education bureau secretary Lee Sing Chooi said the first meeting between the two parties in seeking further action to assist the 15 schools in the relocation process will be held at the education ministry.

Apart from him, the MCA committee consists of its secretary-general and education bureau chief Dr Ting Chew Peh and Deputy Education Minister Hon Choon Kim while Gerakan is headed by its education bureau chief Kerk Choo Ting.