KUALA LUMPUR: MCA’s warring factions have made a breakthrough by agreeing to fresh polls but the date for the party elections remains a sticky point.

Deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said he and vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai attended a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Monday night and they agreed to have fresh party polls to elect new leadership but they could not agree on the date.

Chua said Liow preferred the polls to be held in December or January while he thought March was better as many people would have gone on holiday in December. He also said January and February would not be suitable as many people would be busy with the new school term and the Chinese New Year celebration.

Chua said party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, who is currently abroad, had also agreed to fresh polls but Ong preferred to hold the elections in six to eight months’ time, pending a new election system.

“But if we use the current system of 2,400 central delegates then we can do it earlier,” said Chua after chairing the committee for electoral reform meeting yesterday.

Asked if he would compromise on the March date that he had proposed, Chua said: “It is not about compromise. It is about a suitable date. March is a good date.

“There is a breakthrough that there should be fresh polls. Next month is not good because people will have holidays.”

He also explained that the fresh polls could not be held next month because the secretary-general would need to send a notice of 21 days to the central delegates for the annual general meeting (AGM) and another seven days must be set aside for nominations. The party has set Dec 5 for this year’s AGM.

He also said that Liow and his faction ought to cancel the Nov 28 EGM to show their support and commitment to the efforts by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Muhyiddin in solving MCA’s crisis.

“All quarters should compromise so that decisions can stabilise the party and restore the members’ confidence in the leadership,” said Chua.

On speculation that he was willing to work with Liow’s faction, Chua said MCA leaders would work with anyone who wanted peace and stability.

Chua said it had been suggested to Liow and his faction that the status quo with regards to all party positions would remain once an agreement on the poll date was reached.

On the new polling method, Chua said the committee was of the opinion that it would difficult to allow all party members to vote considering the membership was almost a million.

“Monitoring will be an issue as there are about 4,000 branches,” he said, adding that there were also the question of logistics and cost.

He said the other method would be to increase the number of delegates from the current 2,400 to about 30,000 by including branch delegates.

“This will be reflective of the grassroots and more democratic,” said Chua, adding that more discussions would be held on an acceptable election method.