Saturday, December 7, 2013

History not on the side of MCA’s peace plan - www.fz.com

FZGRAPHICS

While a 'peace plan' would be ideal for the internal fighting in MCA, its history has proven that it will not work.

PETALING JAYA (Dec 7): Some might think a “peace plan” would stop the internal sword-fighting after the party poll, but the history of MCA politics has shown that this is not going to work.

Furthermore, this will strengthen the perception that MCA leaders are after party posts and personal political interest, and this is exactly why the voters deserted them in the 2008 and 2013 general elections.
  
Senior MCA leader Datuk Yap Pian Hon also reacted strongly to the peace plan in the making.

“This plan will kill democracy in the party as the new leadership will be arranged after negotiations,” Yap told fz.com in a phone interview.

He said this will not make MCA look good to the voters when it should be talking about reform, transformation and democratisation.

Yap, who is also a former vice-president, said the plan may work in the short term but the infighting will happen again because the team that was put in place was not chosen by the grassroots according to their assessment of the candidates.

“The central delegates must be given the opportunity to assess these leaders’ performance and goals and then make their choice. Then the new team that is born will not be monopolised by certain factions,” he said.

Yap said a free and fair party poll will ensure that the party can retain quality leaders and be respected.

MCA president Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek admitted that he is talking with deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai to forge a peace plan to ensure a peaceful transition. However, there are some issues both sides still have not ironed out yet.

It was reported that under the plan, Liow and MCA national youth chief Datuk Wee Ka Siong will be the No.1 and No.2, while two leaders from the both factions: Chua’s son Datuk Chua Tee Yong and Datuk Lee Chee Leong, as well as Chew Mei Fun and Hou Kok Chung will be the vice-presidents. Also, Chua will get 13 central committee members and Liow’s faction will get 12.

Tee Yong and Lee Chee Leong had announced yesterday that they are going to contest for the vice-president’s post. Another 13 leaders from the Chua faction have also announced their intention to contest for posts on the Central Committee.

The MCA will hold its party poll on Dec 21. Liow, former president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and vice-president Gan Ping Sieu are expected to engage in a three-cornered fight. However, with nomination day scheduled for Dec 16, there are still uncertainties about the talks that are going on among the leaders.


07.12.2013

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