'By-election nothing to do with ministerial posts'
Kow Kwan YeePublished: Feb 13, 2014 12:29 PM | Updated: Feb 13, 2014 12:47 PM
It is illogical to relate Chinese sentiment for the Kajang by-election with MCA’s latest move to hold an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on Feb 23 to review the resolution not to hold cabinet posts, says the party president Liow Tiong Lai.
It is illogical to relate Chinese sentiment for the Kajang by-election with MCA’s latest move to hold an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on Feb 23 to review the resolution not to hold cabinet posts, said its party president Liow Tiong Lai.
He said the result of that election should not be used as a benchmark to measure the Chinese community’s support for the party.
When asked if the party’s possible defeat in by-election might reflect the Chinese expressing their objections regarding the MCA holding cabinet posts, Liow was not amused.
“This is a very illogical interpretation,” he retorted in a press conference after chairing the MCA’s central committee meeting today.
He was responding to a remark by his predecessor Dr Chua Soi Lek (left) yesterday, who suggested that the party should use Kajang as an acid test to determine Chinese support.
Earlier, Liow, a former health minister, said it was decided that the EGM to be held in conjunction with the party’s 65th anniversary celebration at Wisma MCA.
More than one third of the central delegates had signed a petition calling for the EGM.
Citing the party constitution, Liow denied that the EGM was set in a hurry, as the normal procedure required the EGM to be held within the next 30 days right after the issuance of the letter of requisition, which was before the by-election date on March 23.
Yesterday, MCA secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan announced that the party had received the backing of some 80 percent of the central delegates to call for the EGM in order to decide if MCA should accept government posts at all three levels of local government, state and cabinet posts.
Liow said the EGM was necessary judging from requests from the central delegates, businessmen and Chinese associations, who wanted MCA in the government.
MCA suffered confusing political ramifications from the EGM on Oct 20 last year, when the central delegates decided to accept positions at the state and local levels, but to reject minister and deputy minister posts, by a mere 10-vote difference.
He said the result of that election should not be used as a benchmark to measure the Chinese community’s support for the party.
When asked if the party’s possible defeat in by-election might reflect the Chinese expressing their objections regarding the MCA holding cabinet posts, Liow was not amused.
“This is a very illogical interpretation,” he retorted in a press conference after chairing the MCA’s central committee meeting today.
He was responding to a remark by his predecessor Dr Chua Soi Lek (left) yesterday, who suggested that the party should use Kajang as an acid test to determine Chinese support. Earlier, Liow, a former health minister, said it was decided that the EGM to be held in conjunction with the party’s 65th anniversary celebration at Wisma MCA.
More than one third of the central delegates had signed a petition calling for the EGM.
Citing the party constitution, Liow denied that the EGM was set in a hurry, as the normal procedure required the EGM to be held within the next 30 days right after the issuance of the letter of requisition, which was before the by-election date on March 23.
Yesterday, MCA secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan announced that the party had received the backing of some 80 percent of the central delegates to call for the EGM in order to decide if MCA should accept government posts at all three levels of local government, state and cabinet posts.
Liow said the EGM was necessary judging from requests from the central delegates, businessmen and Chinese associations, who wanted MCA in the government.
MCA suffered confusing political ramifications from the EGM on Oct 20 last year, when the central delegates decided to accept positions at the state and local levels, but to reject minister and deputy minister posts, by a mere 10-vote difference.
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