| Liow To Explain To PM Importance Of Fresh Party Elections |
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PUTRAJAYA, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- MCA vice- president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai is prepared to meet the prime minister to end the impasse in the party and will stress on the importance of going back to the grassroots to choose the party leadership.
He said if the warring factions agreed at the meeting with Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to hold fresh party elections, the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) planned for Nov 28 needed not be held.
Liow said it would be difficult for the party to function if its central committee was ineffective.
"The EGM is not to sack anybody, not to create instablity, but to seek fresh elections for the party," said the health minister after chairing the 8th meeting of the National Food Safety and Nutrition Council, here, Thursday.
Najib today said he would meet the leaders of the warring factions to find a solution to the party's internal crisis which was worsening.
On the decision of the party's central committee to reject the Nov 28 EGM at their meeting yesterday chaired by president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat as it was said to be flawed and against the party constitution, Liow said the constitution did not prevent the EGM from being held.
"Under Article 30.2, it is the right of one-third of the CC members to call for the EGM and the delegates to attend. It's all in accordance with the constitution, there is no irregularity," he said.
Liow said he would also be meeting party grassroot members to explain to them the internal crisis, especially the president's action yesterday of replacing nine presidential council members, including Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong and Wanita head Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun who supported Liow.
"We need to explain that this should not happen because the presidential council is a very important decision-making body in the party, yet we have five deputy ministers who are not in it. So, how can the MCA be an effective party?"
In KUALA LUMPUR, Wee expressed relief following the prime minister's decision to meet the leaders from both sides, and did not view this an interfering in the internal affairs of another party.
"We thank the prime minister for his concern because as the Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, he can call all quarters for discussion," he told reporters at the parliament lobby Thursday.
"In this matter, we cannot say that Umno is interfering in MCA's affairs. We have to be clear about this. As the prime minister and BN chairman, he (Najib) has seen the latest developments in MCA and feels that it's time to call all parties to the discussion table," Wee said.
-- BERNAMA
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