Today, the NST carried a very timely report paving the way for Chew Mei Fun to blaze the trail in Kajang.
KUALA LUMPUR: MCA will celebrate its 65th anniversary today at its headquarters here and at least 2,380 party delegates are expected to turn up to mark the occasion.
But besides celebrating the party's birthday, MCA central delegates are facing one major task: to pass a resolution allowing party leaders to take up ministerial positions in the Federal Government.
At present, no MCA leaders hold such a position after the previous party leadership decided to prevent its members from taking it up should the party fare badly in the 13th General Election.
The move was meant to motivate MCA's election candidates to work hard to win the hearts and minds of the Chinese community after losing their support in the 2008 general election. MCA won only 15 parliamentary seats.
That number was shockingly halved in GE13, when the Chinese community once again abandoned the party, leaving it with only seven parliamentary and 11 state seats.
The weaker performance came as a major surprise to MCA, and it was forced to swallow its pride and uphold the ruling it had implemented and barring its members from assuming any government posts.
Then came Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek's announcement that he would step down at the end of 2013 to own up to MCA's electoral debacle. After a short internal power struggle, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai came out on top, promising change and total reform.
Liow, flanked by his deputy Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong, almost immediately set into motion preparations for the party to rescind the ruling designed and endorsed by the outgoing leadership.
To Liow, MCA simply could not fulfil its duties as the caretaker of the Chinese community if it did not have a say in policy-making. And to be part of that process, the party had to be part of the Federal cabinet.
Liow is believed to have orchestrated the coming emergency general meeting (EGM) by commissioning three party central committee (CC) members to requisition it.
The three CC members, led by Perak MCA chief Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon, had then travelled across the country, meeting all the central delegates and acquiring their signatures approving the trio's intention to hold an EGM.
At the end of their tour, Mah and his comrades managed to collect more than 1,900 signatures from a total of 2,380 delegates. This, according to political pundits, signals an all-round support for Liow, whose leadership has barely entered its fourth month.
The EGM today carries only one resolution: to accept government posts at all levels, including Federal-level appointments.
The government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has also "reserved" the Transport Ministry for an MCA leader, recognising the possibility of the party overturning its 2011 ruling that has kept MCA out of the cabinet for nine months.
It is expected that Liow, who has previously served as Health Minister, will take up the mantle from acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein.
A turnout of at least 90 per cent can be expected during today's EGM, and if the number of signatures is anything to go by, the resolution will be passed with relative ease, either through a show of hands or balloting.
One thing is for sure: for now, MCA is left with a predicament on policy-making and implementation.
Despite not holding any cabinet posts for nine months, MCA is still responsible for issues related to the Chinese community, especially education.
As MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chua said: "MCA can only be responsible and carry out its duty as a ruling party provided that it participates fully in the government.
"MCA is accountable for addressing Chinese community issues but it is helpless because of its absence in government.
"After a soul-searching period of staying out of cabinet, the MCA grassroots have given their feedback."
Dr Mah said: "MCA has been absent from cabinet or in other levels of government for the last nine months and this poses an anomaly in policy-making.
"Hence, the most important thing is that MCA be involved in the decision-making process to assist the Chinese community to resolve problems encountered by Chinese Malaysians."
Source: NST
In another newreport, Fz.com said that 99.5% of the central delegates voted 'yes' to a party resolution to accept all levels of government position via show of hands. Read more at their site.
In another newreport, Fz.com said that 99.5% of the central delegates voted 'yes' to a party resolution to accept all levels of government position via show of hands. Read more at their site.
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