Ka Chuan: EGM for Liow bashing is cruel

"It's cruel!". That's how MCA central committee member Ong Ka Chuan has described the manoeuvring by party president Chua Soi Lek to discredit his deputy, Liow Tiong Lai.

He was referring to next week's the planned extraordinary general meeting (EGM) initiated by Chua's faction which among others, seeks to censure Liow.

According to Bernama, Ong (below) had urged the party to abort the EGM scheduled for Oct 20 as it would merely be a platform for Liow bashing.

He said he could not see the rationale for the EGM as the party would be holding its annual general meeting in December.

"I am not siding Liow, but he represents the young people who are trained to take over the leadership at all levels in the party.

"If we are to hold an EGM to criticise a leader from the group, I think it is cruel," he told reporters in Ipoh today.

Plea on delegates' behalf

Ong,former MCA secretary-general, said the party leadership should not place delegates in a difficult position, especially with the party polls to be held soon.

"Give Liow a chance to contest in the MCA election. Whether he becomes president or not depends on the delegates," he added.

Last Oct 3, Chua had said that the EGM would be held to censure Liow for disrespecting the CC decision to lift the suspension of Pulai Sebatang assemblyman Tee Siew Keong for accepting the appointment as a state executive councillor by the Sultan of Johor.

An internal conflict was sparked when Liow and 13 other CC members, through a petition on September 9, requested an EGM seeking to reinstate Tee's suspension.

However, that particular EGM did not materialise and Liow was later had to face the current counter-EGM which will land him in the hot seat instead.