Liow's faction wants EGM to reverse decision on Tee
Fourteen MCA central committee members led by deputy president Liow Tiong Lai today urged the party to convene an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to reverse its decision to lift the suspension of Tee Siew Kiong's membership.
Fourteen MCA central committee members led by deputy president Liow Tiong Lai today urged the party to convene an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to reverse its decision to lift the suspension of Tee Siew Kiong's membership.
This was revealed at a hastily arranged press conference at the MCA headquarters today, after the 14 individuals met for an hour.
The resolution they want past is: "That the central committee's decision on Sept 5, 2013, in lifting the suspension of Tee is in contravention with the party's resolution passed at the general assembly (AGM) on Oct 2, 2011, and that Tee's suspension shall be reinstated."
Liow described that this was a "simple" single resolution that they want discussed and the ball is now on party president Dr Chua Soi Lek's court as he can invoke his executive powers to call for an EGM
in a shorter period, which is to issue a seven days' notice.
According to the party constitution, the EGM can be called in 30 days, but it needs a 21-day notice. However, the president can direct the secretary-general to issue a notification of no less than seven days, if an urgent situation occurs.
According to the party’s constitution, an EGM can be held at the request of either one third of the central committee, one third of the central delegates or the president himself.
'Up to Chua to make the decision'
"Now it's up to him to make the decision," he said, adding that Chua should not make things difficult by citing the divisional level AGMs that will begin on Sept 22 as an excuse not to have the EGM.
This move by Liow's faction is the latest in the escalation of hostilities between them and Chua's faction. 
If the EGM is convened and the resolution is adopted, it would be as good as a vote of no confidence against Chua.
Previously, Liow's faction had voiced disapproval with the decision to lift the suspension that was imposed on Tee for disobeying the party annual general meeting resolution to reject any government position if the party did not fare better during the 13th general election.
Liow's faction argued that if MCA lets Tee off the hook, it would mean that the party was disrespecting the wishes of the party delegates.
However, the central committee had decided, on a narrow vote of 16 for and 14 against, to lift Tee's suspension on the grounds that his admission into the Johor state executive council was by a decree of the Johor Sultan.
Meanwhile, Labis MP Chua Tee Yong (right) has ruled out running for a central committee post if his father and MCA president Soi Lek contests in the coming party elections.
Tee Yong said he hoped the move would reduce infighting and squash rumours his father was negotiating to secure a seat for him.
“The party does not only revolve around Liow and Chua. I hope those who continue to spread rumours don’t insult our central delegates who have their own opinions and judgment. MCA is a political party and not a private company where the boss can arrange anyone for any position.
“I hope that all the factional infighting ends and people start thinking and speaking for the party, not for their faction,” Tee Yong said, adding that if the fighting continued the party would lose even more seats in the next general election.
According to the party constitution, an EGM can be called with the request of one-third of its central committee members, one-third of the central delegates or by the party president.
Liow: I want to uphold party's integrity
The party central committee consists of 42 members and as Liow's faction has passed the threshold, with 14 members calling for the EGM.
Asked if this would be an anti-Chua EGM, Liow said it was up to the media to interpret, that this was nothing personal as he was only seeking to uphold the party's disciplinary and integrity.
MCA's infighting began when the central committee last Thursday overturned Tee's three-year suspension upon his appeal.
The suspension was made three months earlier by the MCA presidential council on grounds that Tee defied the party's decision in shunning all government posts.
Later, Liow and 14 central committee members objected to the lifting of the suspension on Tee, but MCA vice-president Donald Lim is not with Liow in this latest action against Chua's leadership.
Asked if Lim had "defected" to the other side, Liow didn't offer a direct answer, but said they have enough members to call for an EGM.
