KUALA LUMPUR: The MCA Integrity Restoring Taskforce (MIRT) has decided to call off their extraordinary general meeting (EGM) just two days before the meeting was scheduled to take place.

According to chief requisitionist Wong Nai Chee, MIRT had decided to call off the second EGM as party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, his deputy Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai had reached a tripartite consensus on fresh election for the MCA central committee (CC).

"We trust that the annual general meeting (AGM) on Dec 5 will be deferred to a date to be fixed in conjunction with the proposed fresh elections.

"We hereby announce the calling off of the Nov 28 EGM and the same be replaced with a special briefing session," Wong told reporters in a last-minute press conference at the party headquarters today.

The press conference was also attended by Liow, Datuk Wee Jeck Seng, Datuk Liew Yuen Keong, Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong and Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun.

According to Wong, MIRT’s objective of having fresh elections has been met due to the direct and indirect support of the grassroots members.

Wong, however, said since the EGM venue, traveling and accommodation arrangements had already been made for this Saturday’s meeting, a special briefing will be held instead.

"The pre-EGM dinner on Friday at Wisma MCA will go on as originally planned. All flight and hotel accommodation for the delegates remain unchanged," he added.

The special briefing will begin at 10.30am Satuday.

However, the reasons for the cancellation remain sketchy as they declined to elaborate on the "fresh elections".

"We will announce in a few days the date for fresh party elections," said Liow.

The health minister was nevertheless confident that fresh elections for the party will be held "as soon as possible".

But when pressed on the matter, Liow said he had to respect the other parties and would not give any indication of when the new polls date will be.

Leading up to the EGM, sources said Liow’s group could only muster some 400-600 delegates. The minimum quorum for an EGM is one-third of 2,340 central delegates or 780.

When questioned on this, Wong said 1,300 delegates had already registered for the EGM on Saturday.

Meanwhile, MCA Secretary-General Datuk Wong Foon Meng said the AGM on Dec 5 is still on.

"I’ve not received any instructions to postpone the AGM and am in the midst of preparing the logistics for the delegates to come for the meeting," said Wong, when met at his office.

For the secretary-general to postpone the AGM, he would have to receive instructions from the party president before tabling it at the CC for the committee to agree on.

After that, he would have to inform the central delegates of any postponements.

"But that would mean a lot of logistical issues as hotel rooms and transportation arrangements have already been made for the central delegates to come next week."

The Dewan Negara Senate president said he was also unaware of any "fresh polls" for the party.

However, Wong did not discount the possibility of having fresh polls by the end of the year.