MCA GEARS UP FOR 13TH GENERAL ELECTION OR FOR “BIG FUNERAL”?

MCA GEARS UP FOR 13TH GENERAL ELECTION OR FOR “BIG FUNERAL”?
Updated: Sunday March 13, 2011 MYT 3:37:16 PM

MCA delays polls, gears up for general election

KUALA LUMPUR: The MCA elections, scheduled to begin this month, will now be held within six months after the next general election.

This follows an amendment to the party constitution passed during the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) at Wisma MCA here yesterday.

The delegates vote with a show of hands

The amendment allows the party to postpone the party elections - due 36 months after the last general election - and hold it within six months after the next general election.

The last general election was held on March 8, 2008 and the party elections was due to start this month.

A total of 1,827 or 99% of the 1,844 central delegates present at the assembly voted for the amendment while 14 abstained and three voted against it.

The voting was by hand and the results were announced by the assembly speaker Datuk Yik Phooi Hong.

Prior the amendment yesterday, the party constitution stated that the central committee can decide to postpone the party elections if it is due 42 months after the last general election, and hold the party elections within three months after the next general election.

MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha told central delegates at the start of the EGM that the rationale to postpone the party elections was to enable the party to focus fully on the upcoming general election.

At a press conference after the EGM, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek thanked the central delegates for their support for the amendment, adding that what was important now was to ensure the party machinery was ready to face the general election which could be called anytime from now.

”The fact that 99% of the central delegates present have supported the amendment shows the political wisdom of party members.

“They understand the need to work hard and work together with other component parties to ensure a Barisan Nasional victory under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s leadership.

“The upcoming general election is the biggest challenge in the Barisan history,” he said.

As to whether the outcome of the EGM reflected the increase in support for his leadership, Dr Chua who won the presidency on March 28 last year in a three-cornered fight, said:

“The members have closed ranks and have a common direction. They have placed party interest above everything else and put aside all personal differences to face the coming general election.”

A total of 1,894 or 80.19% of the 2,362 central delegates registered for the EGM and 50 were not present during voting.

The EGM was petitioned by 2,201 or 93.18% of the 2,362 central delegates last month.