KUALA LUMPUR: Former MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai on Thursday, March 18, appealed to the party's legal bureau to reconsider its decision to pronounce two former central committee (CC) members, Datuk Wong Mook Leong and Wong Nai Chee, as ineligible to seek re-election during the upcoming party polls.

"This is not in accordance with the spirit of re-elections. The party constitution allows all central committee members to stand for re-election without any prohibition," Liow told a press conference in parliament's lobby on Thursday.

Liow cited Article 41 of the MCA constitution which states, among other things, that "nothing herein shall prevent the re-election of any ex-CC members".

Liow was responding to MCA legal bureau chairman Datuk Lim Hong Sang's statements that Nai Chee and Mook Leong were not considered incumbent members as both had resigned on March 4 and were therefore ineligible to contest, based on the party constitution's Article 33.

Article 33 states that those qualified to contest for seats in the party's central body were incumbent CC members, central delegates, members of parliament, state assemblymen, state liaison committee chairmen and division chairmen.

Liow said only Article 41, and not Article 33, was relevant to re-elections and that he had consulted many senior lawyers which concurred with that opinion.

"I feel that our spirit to hold re-elections is for the good and the interests of the party. We cannot sacrifice any CC members or prevent them from participating in the re-elections," he added.

However, Nai Chee was recently quoted by Sin Chew Daily as saying that he would not seek re-election to avoid any "problems".

Commenting on that, Liow said he accepted Nai Chee's decision but maintained that "as comrades", he should still make the appeal on his behalf to the MCA legal bureau.

To a question, Liow said the MCA legal bureau "still had time" before the March 22 nomination day and could "look into it immediately".

Asked if he thought the legal bureau had a "motive" in its decision, Liow said, "It shouldn't be political. The legal bureau should be fair".

The health minister also remained tightlipped on which position he would be contesting during the March 28 polls, reiterating that he would make his announcement "very soon".

Former MCA youth chief Datuk Wee Ka Siong told the same press conference that the legal bureau could not disqualify anyone from contesting and said he hoped "they would not abuse this".