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| Update Ong-Liow talks more important than EGM |
| Written by Chua Sue-Ann & Sharon Tan | |||
| Tuesday, 20 October 2009 14:28 | |||
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MCA secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng said his main priority now was to seek a meeting of Ong and Liow to discuss a possible solution. "EGM will be dealt with later. My priority is that I will arrange the discussion and also try to resolve the matter," said Wong when met in parliament, adding that the talks would be arranged within "one or two" days. He said Ong had indicated his willingness to talk. Asked if ousted deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek would also be included in the talks, Wong said: "At this stage, it's best to let Ong and Liow discuss and find a resolution. Hopefully, they can find a way out." He said both sides had approached each other, an indication of their willingness to reconcile. "I hope something can be resolved as soon as possible," said Wong, who acknowledged that he had received the notice to call for an EGM from Ong on Oct 15. However, since it was the party president who made the request for EGM under Article 30.1, it is not limited by a time frame, unlike an EGM requested by central delegates which must be held within 30 days. Earlier, former vice-president Datuk Seri Fong Chan Onn said any talks ought to include Chua as he commanded the support of half of the party. "All of them have the interests of the party at heart. Now it's time all of us must think of the party and find ways and means to strengthen the party and put aside our feelings. "In a nutshell, I still feel that the three of them can get together. For the good of the party all of us should put aside our personal interests and look at ways and means to resolve the crisis as soon as possible," Responding to the deputy prime minister's statement that the Barisan Nasional chairman may have the locus standi to help if there were a consensus amongst MCA central committee members, Fong said: "The feeling of the grassroots is that if Umno were to be involved now, they would feel embarrassed. It is still not the time yet." Asked if there was too much animosity for the leaders to sit down together, Fong said regardless of the animosity, the party did not exist because of two or three individuals. He said central committee members also should put aside personal interests and positional gains. "Any new leadership that emerges, if not through election, must be through a broad consensus that is inclusive of those who are opposing each other. The party is at stake," said Fong, adding the party was racing against time. He urged Ong, Liow and Chua to show leadership in reuniting the party. On whether the leaders should still come together to discuss matters even though Ong had called for an EGM, he said: "If there is any avenue to resolve the problem, we should explore. The party is at a very critical juncture. "It is in ICU. It is necessary that we do not close the tube that passes oxygen to the body. If we do that then we will not recover."
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