Is MCA’s peace plan undemocratic?

Undeniably, both MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and ousted deputy Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek command a huge portion of the party’s delegates, but it is claimed that the whole process of the peace plan between them has been undemocratic and devoid of legitimacy.


Ong Ka Chuan

Former MCA secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan criticizing the MCA’s peace plan is undemocratic.

Ka Chuan also criticized Ong Tee Keat for not consulting the central committee over the plan and instead sought the approval of the Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, which he said was inappropriate.

He said this would result in public perception that the party was susceptible to external interference.

Ka Chuan said the party's assembly was the highest decision-making body and once a decision has been made, it must be accepted and respected.

He said that at the very least, the party leadership must explain to the members why the delegate's views were ignored.

He said President Ong Tee Keat's plan had in effect turned the Oct 10 extraordinary general meeting (EGM) outcome into a "joke".

He said both Ong Tee Keat and Dr Chua Soi Lek's factions had agreed on the resolutions before a notice for the EGM was issued.

Ong Tee Keat reneged on his promise and refused to step down while Dr Chua Sooi Lek is now seeking the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to reinstate him to his former post.

Ironically, if MCA continues to be wracked by internal fiasco, it would have a negative impact on BN and benefits opposition in the upcoming elections.

The question arises: Can the Peace Plan maintain the status quo in MCA and re-energize it or otherwise?

Can MCA resolve its crisis internally?

Chinese community termed the MCA internal crisis as unfortunate.

It seemed that MCA had not learnt any lessons from its past mistakes and always repeats the same mistakes.


Ironically, it is strongly believe that the 60-year-old party MCA was incapable of solving its own internal crisis through its own internal mechanism. At the MCA's extraordinary general meeting (EGM), 1,155 of the 2,304 central delegates passed a vote of no-confidence against its president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.

The EGM also passed a resolution to reinstate suspended Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek's membership albeit rejecting the motion to restore him as the party's No. 2.

The two leaders said they accepted the outcome of the EGM. Following that, the party's powerful central committee (CC) had met to discuss the latest development and the next course of action for the party. It is claimed that CC had never asking the President to step down.

However, Ong Tee Keat refused to resign as party president despite losing a confidence vote. Vise President Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai was appointed deputy president of MCA after a heated central committee meeting. He had at loggerheads with Ong Tee Keat who says he will now call for another EGM.

Undeniably, it was not easy for Ong and Liow to find a compromise because Liow was not keen for a fresh party election while Ong would prefer fresh party election to get endorsement from the delegates to continue as the party president.

Initially, members of MCA thought that Ong Tee Keat would be a good and capable president, but within a year of taking office, he was as bad as all the rest, it shows how absolute power corrupts absolutely.

The question arises: Can MCA resolve its political crisis internally?

Malaysia Day a national holiday is most welcome

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's announcement that Sept 16 will be a national public holiday from next year to commemorate Hari Malaysia is a most welcome development in the long run to celebrate the formation of Malaysia.

He said Malaysia Day will be celebrated with activities to strengthen unity, racial understanding, and the people's achievement in sports, socio-culture, culture and others to light up the spirit of 1Malaysia.

Undeniably, under the 1Malaysia spirit, Aug 31 and Sept 16 were equally significant.

Aug 31 marks the attainment of independence from colonialism, while Sept 16 were equally significant as Sept 16 ushered the birth of a new and bigger nation called Malaysia although Singapore left the federation in 1965.

Nik Aziz admits wrong strategy caused defeat in Bagan Pinang

PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat admitted PAS’ defeat in the Bagan Pinang by-election was due to a wrong strategy in their campaign.


He said relying on “ceramah” (political rallies) did not bring in the intended results. Most voters in Bagan Pinang did not know much about PAS and thus, did not vote for the party, he said.

“This caused the votes for PAS to drop as compared to the last general election,” Nik Aziz, who is also Kelantan Menteri Besar, added that the voters also had the perception that the party comprised terrorists and extremists, causing them to be too afraid to accept it.

The huge majority won by BN's Mohd Isa Samad at the well fought by-election at Bagan Pinang against his PAS rival is a major morale booster for Umno.

The result was as follow:

Mohd Isa Abd Samad (BN): 8,013

Zulkefly Mohamad Omar (PAS): 2,578

Majority: 5,435

Spoilt votes: 223