MCA party crisis has evolved into the current stage in which all the factions are taking the party as their private property. With their own axe to grind, they are trying to “divide the spoils among themselves”.

Originally, right after the Central Committee (CC) meeting on 15 Oct, President Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat had instructed the Secretary-General to convene another Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) to dissolve the CC. But the Liow faction did not agree with it as they believed that they could control the situation through the CC. Unexpectedly, Ong dropped the original plan of convening the second EGM after he and former Deputy President Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek agreed with the greater unity plan. He stayed on as the President and it is now the Liow faction's turn to ask for an EGM, so that they would not become the victims of the unity plan.

Another EGM has been requisitioned by 16 central committee members from the Liow faction as Ong and Deputy President Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai have failed to achieved a consensus. And now, there are still two days to go for the deadline of the period of notice for the CC meeting on 3 Nov and the second EGM. Would Ong give way to implement the greater unity plan through the CC and let the Liow faction to become part of the unity plan?

Ong has been acting strangely and he is extremely intolerable with Liow faction's betrayal. If he is unable to persuade some CC members who signed the petition to withdraw, he will then try to combine with the Chua faction and perish together with the Liow faction through a fresh party elections.

If Ong is still unwilling to leave his power and position, he will make some compromises and negotiate again with the Liow faction in order to make arrangements for the three factions. However, would the Liow faction have faith the President's commitment? He has a record after all.

And it would be a key issue whether the Liow faction will split. Some people may just seek for benefits.

On the other hand, Dr Chua's attitude is ambiguous. Even though he said that the unity plan must include the three factions and no one should be marginalised, he also said that EGM is a waste of time ans it would be better to directly have a fresh party elections. It seems like the Chua faction is as well measuring the situation, hoping to gain benefits and at the same time, causing no harm to Dr Chua's credibility and support rate among the grassroots.

Therefore, there may be new changes at any time. It may end up a great reconciliation and it may also lead to an EGM or resignation en masse.

Regardless what is the outcome, another round of dispute has once again tarnished the prestige of MCA, leaving the party no dignity at all. Particularly, from the issue of the President's refusal to resign, it is obvious that some people have lied for their own interests.

The President said that he would resign if the EGM passed the revolution of no confidence in him. It was immoral to break his own words and now, someone actually lied on what happened during the EGM on 10 Oct and involved Master Hsing Yun in the issue. It shows that we can no longer find credibility in MCA.

As the leaders do not respect the EGM results and the three factions are unable to cooperate, a fresh elections should be the best solution to resolve the party crisis, hand power back to the people and prevent the manipulation of a few people. But how the delegates are going to choose as so many leaders are actually lack of leadership qualities, including those who refused to go after being defeated, those who betrayed their friends and those who lied for their own interests? There is no future for MCA regardless who is the leader. (By LIM SUE GOAN/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily)