MCA MP TO QUIT PARTY ?

Possible "exodus" of MCA MPs - to BN

KUALA LUMPUR: Eight of the 15 MCA’s members of parliament are considering quitting the party once they can apply through the Barisan Nasional direct membership, party sources revealed today.

They said the eight MPs, which included one minister and four deputy ministers, believed that it was the best route to take in registering their protest to the MCA leadership but at the same time not jeopardising the BN.

“They feel their position in the MCA has become so untenable that they do not want to remain in the party. However, they are very much aware if they act rashly, BN will suffer.

“They believe strongly in the BN concept of power sharing and the coalition’s aspirations. Yet, they can’t remain in the MCA which leadership had failed to check the slide and in fact contributed further by not listening to the demand of its members,” a source said.

Under the proposed BN direct membership, individuals, political groups and non-governmental organisations would be eligible to apply.

Sources said the eight were - Bentong MP and Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai, Alor Star MP and Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung, Ayer Hitam MP and Deputy Education Minister Datuk Wee Ka Siong (he is also the MCA Youth Chief), Tanjong Piai MP and Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Wee Jeck Seng, Kluang MP and Deputy Higher Education Minister Dr Hou Kok Chung, Tanjong Malim MP and former MCA secretary-general Datuk Ong Ka Chuan, Tebrau MP Teng Boon Soon and Gelang Patah MP Tan Ah Eng.

They claimed that former MCA president Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting, who is also Kulai MP, is with the eight though he had not explicitly said he would join them if they took the route to quit the MCA and apply to be the BN direct members.

Asked if there were any recourse for them not to pursue their plans, a source said: “The only recourse is for the party leadership to revert back to the party’s status quo after the party election of 2008 and re-instate those who were sacked from the central committee and other positions after the EGM of October 10 last year.

“Otherwise, the party must hold a fresh election so that the top leadership who were rejected during the EGM can regain the mandate of the party members.

“As it is right now, the party leadership had reject ed a resolution calling for a fresh election from being tabled in next week’s AGM (March 7).”

Sources also said that when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak responded to calls to help resolve the MCA crisis, certain leaders in the party used it to rally support to their side by a cusing that Umno was interfering in MCA’s affairs.

“In the first place, it was MCA leaders who felt that Najib can act as a mediator to our crisis. Furthermore, Najib has all the right to intervene because he is the BN chairman,” a source said.