MCA president Ong Tee Keat had met with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to brief him on the party crisis.
I have no details of their meeting but I imagine Najib must have asked Ong to get his and the MCA's act together and resolve the crisis, OR ELSE.
Unity, a unified MCA -- seem to be the buzzwords in Ong's and (former deputy president) Dr Chua Soi Lek's plan to resolve all issues confronting the party's leadership.
Ong called for a press conference at Wisma MCA in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.
MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and his former deputy Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek have agreed to work together as a team to unite the party. At a press conference, Dr Chua said he would work with Ong without any pre-conditions.
This "coming together" is in urgent response to members' fed-upness with the leaders. How many more EGMs just to resolve this?
Members have sent strong signals that they want the crisis resolved or...
They want some assurance from the party leadership of real effort to resolve the crisis that is not doing any good to the party, or the Chinese community.
So, this (Ong-Chua coming together) is going to be the real deal....
Ong said at the press conference:
“I will reach out to all leaders and strive to form an all-inclusive MCA that will include all factions and personalities who can contribute as a team.
“With a unified MCA, the leaders can now re-focus their attention on strengthening the party to regain the confidence and trust of the Chinese community and Malaysians in general,” he said.
To be updated...
Meanwhile read
this.and Ti Lian Ker's
Come 2gether MCA Leaders!**********************
MCA has a lot of work to do to convince its members and the Chinese community that, yes...this is the real deal, that both Ong, Dr Chua and the party's top leaders are serious about putting aside their differences to chart that road for a unified MCA.
It maybe the real deal, but to whom and for whom?
It goes without saying that members want the crisis to be resolved. The EGM was to have resolved that. That, I'm sure has not escaped anyone's attention.
A lot of work is one thing...but for sure, members want to see sincerity and genuine-ness in this effort.
There has been too much acrimony, bitterness that has caused further divisiveness in an already weakened party. Continuing without any attempt/effort to resolve the crisis, thus to save the party, is at the party's own peril.
Unless, everyone has a short memory, then it will be an easy path ahead. But, look at the delegates who have voted not to have both Ong and Dr Chua in the party. They are going to scrutinize every move the party leaders make.
Some issues are still unresolved -- Dr Chua's application to the ROS for reinstatement as deputy president. Will he now withdraw his application?
So, yes. This coming together, this greater unity plan, this bury the hatchet, this forgive and forget -- is encouraging.
You can tell your members that you're not greedy, not power-hungry, that it's all for the sake of party and the community.
But you know they're not blind, nor are they deaf. They are just waiting to see if this is for real.
So, good luck, I say!