Liow's life and death battle at EGM today

MCA deputy president Liow Tiong Lai will be fighting a life and death battle for his political career, as his boss Dr Chua Soi Lek seeks tothwart his ascent to president.

The extraordinary general meeting (EGM) today, requisitioned by Chua's faction, will vote on whether to censure Liow - a move aimed at discrediting the leader before the party polls in December.

The other three resolutions that will be voted on at the EGM concern the withdrawing of the party's previous resolution barring members from taking up position in government at the state and federal level following their dismal showing in the May 5 general election.

If Liow fails to fend off the censure vote, his credibility will be deeply eroded and his chances of succeeding Chua as president will be dim.

The MCA president had made it clear that he is out to axe Liow, calling him "weak" and "indecisive" and asking his number two tostep down with him.

Chua had aggressively rallied his troops and gone all out to prove his point against Liow, but the latter's tame responses to date is doing nothing to inspire confidence among the delegates and so is unlikely to bode well for him at the EGM.

Negative perception
The last minute intervention by Registrar of Societies (ROS) asking that the resolution to censure Liow be dropped will not help the deputy president, as Chua has refused to comply, stating it was merely advice.

Chua had accused Liow of seeking Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's  (left) intervention in fending off the censure attempt, a claim which Liow denies.

But the ROS' strange move is likely to lend credence to Chua's claims, and generate a negative perception towards Liow on whether his faction had asked for outside intervention or not.

Meanwhile, Liow's announcement yesterday that in a last-minute campaign, he would personally knock on doors at hotels where delegates were putting up, also appeared desperate.

Liow had complained that Chua was denying him the delegates list, making it difficult for him to campaign.

Allegiances declared
The EGM itself has forced party leaders to declare their allegiances much earlier than intended.

MCA Youth chief Wee Ka Siong (right), for example, has declared that he willnot go against Liow while MCA vice-president Gan Ping Sieu has emerged as the face of the 20 central committee members backing Chua's EGM.

Depending on whether Chua's or Liow's faction comes out victorious in the EGM, it may prompt a realignment of supporters ahead of the December polls.

The EGM's results will also be a litmus test of Chua's continued influence in the party.

Even if Chua keeps his word not to defend his position in the coming polls, the EGM results will determine whether he can leave the party in the hands of his handpicked leaders, which will include son Tee Yong.