2 theSun | THURSDAY OCTOBER 22 2009

news without borders

Ong, Liow Ibrahim postpones plan to join Umno

meet to solve by Giam Say Khoon
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
rahim’s intention to rejoin the party,
the independent MP who contested
Najib Abdul Razak and his deputy,
Muhyiddin, and he is willing to help
from Umno for contesting as an
independent candidate in the 2004

internal crisis KUALA LUMPUR: Pasir Mas MP

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA president Datuk Seri
Ong Tee Keat and his newly-appointed deputy,
Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, have held meetings
to sort out their differences, following the Cen-
tral Committee (CC) meeting last week.
According to party sources, several person-
alities were also present during the meetings
held at a hotel here under Liow’s initiative.
“Yes, they have met at least twice, but I can’t
tell you the outcome (of the meetings). They are
still discussing. If things progress well, then we
can expect to see everything being wrapped up
by this weekend,” a source, who is privy to the
meeting, told Bernama.
When contacted, however, Ong and Liow
neither refused to confirm nor deny the meet-
ings but the source said the two leaders had yet
to come to any agreement.
“What happened is that basically, Ong, in
most of the time during the meetings, played
the role of a listener. He has not indicated any-
thing,” said the source.
Some powerful CC members when con-
tacted have also confirmed the talks between
the two leaders.
“We heard that they are talking now and
they have met several times. What the outcome
is, I really don’t know,” a senior CC member
told Bernama yesterday.
Some party leaders were however, unhappy
with the Ong-Liow talks as they (the talks) did
not include other party personalities, such as
Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and former party
vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn.
Fong wants Chua to be included in the talks
because the former MCA deputy president com-
manded half of the party support during the
Oct 10 extraordinary general meeting (EGM).
“Obviously, the delegates have spoken and
Chua still controls half of the support. If Ong-
Liow continue to ignore this, more trouble will
come.
“I appeal to both Ong and Liow, don’t func-
tion like you control the whole party. I also
appeal to CC members, any consensus that
excludes Chua will not work. The shortest way
is through a fresh election,” he said.
However, another CC member, Datuk
Chong Itt Chew, believed that the talks had not
progressed much as the party president had
taken action to remove the legal bureau chief
Datuk Leong Tang Chong on Tuesday.
“I heard both of them have been meeting
several times. I believe, if both of them can
compromise, I don’t think Datuk Leong would
be removed from his position. Therefore, it is
interesting to see the next move,” he said.
Datuk Ibrahim Ali has postponed
under PAS ticket in 2008, said he
welcomed Muhyiddin’s comment.
“I feel that there is not yet a
plans to rejoin Umno but said he need for me to rejoin Umno and it
will continue to support the party, is best for me to remain partyless
which he perceives as being more at the moment as it will allow me to
open and stronger now. speak without fear or favour.”
Responding to Deputy Prime Ibrahim opined that Umno has
Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s become stronger under the leader-
comment that Umno is open to Ib- ship of new president Datuk Seri
Ministry calls for two-year
housemanship for docs
PETALING JAYA: The compulsory
service for new doctors may be re-
duced from the present three years
to two, if a proposal by the Ministry
of Health (MOH) to the Malaysian
Medical Council (MMC) is adopted.
This was in response to requests
Two from parents who had sacrificed a
wanted great deal in funding their children’s
medical studies, said Director-
men General of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd
caught Ismail Merican.
after Writing in the special column in
the Malaysian Medical Association’s
robbery (MMA) latest newsletter, he said the
spree ministry appreciated the long hours
pg 4 housemen and junior doctors and
doctors in general have put in and the
ministry “was doing everything in its
power to fight for better remunera-
tion, allowances and promotional
prospects.”
“Various measures have been
taken and will be implemented to
ensure that doctors continue to serve
the MOH,” he added.
Among them were creation of
new allowances; improving the cur-
rent critical and on-call allowances;
providing RM80 per hour allowance for In addition MOH had also created
working extended hours; and RM200 more opportunities for doctors to get
per hour for those performing opera- promoted to higher grades and improve
tions on off-days. working conditions and environment.
and cooperate with them in the
interest of the people and country.
“Umno is now open and it can
general election, said he had not
applied to rejoin the party because
he did not want to be accused of
accept criticisms. doing so for his personal gain.
“I have said that I am willing to On Tuesday, Muhyiddin said if
work with anybody including PAS Ibrahim submits his application to
but when I advised them, they could Umno, its supreme council will de-
not accept it and even wanted me cide whether to accept him based
to resign (as an MP),” he said. on his “pros and cons” as well as his
Ibrahim, who was sacked track record.
He said so far 24,135 posts have
been created but as at December
2008 only 13,762 or 57% of the posts
had been filled of which 2,545 were
for specialists from various disci-
plines.
Mohd Ismail said the ministry
was also working on a time-based
and flexible promotion for medical
officers who were not specialists.
“It saddens me to learn that
some of our non-specialist medical
officers have retired on low grades
even after putting in long years of
valuable and loyal service.”
“However, with this new initiative
the days of medical officers, some of
whom are ‘gurkhas’ in the depart-
ment, being neglected or overlooked
for promotion will be history,” he
assured.
To address the shortage of doc-
tors, Mohd Ismail said the ministry
had invited those working abroad
and those in the local private sector
to work with the MOH.
According to Mohd Ismail, last
year government doctors provided
services to two million admitted pa-
tients and 62 million out-patients. This
year the number would increase signifi-
cantly due to the economic downturn
and the A H1N1 pandemic. – Bernama

Chua may end up central delegates’ support in hand, Chua could

well hold sway in the EGM being called and that
‘kingmaker’ in tussle “neither Ong nor Liow can ‘win’ without the
FORMER MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr support from Chua’s camp”.
Chua Soi Lek, who has the support of some
1,000 central delegates, Support for
may end up playing a
Ong declines
crucial role in ending the
current leadership crisis
Press Digest in Johor
by Kong See Hoh
in the party.
Following Datuk Seri
newsdesk@thesundaily.com MCA vice-president
Ong Tee Keat’s decision Tan Kok Hong, who has
to call for another extraordinary general meet- been keeping a very low profile throughout
ing (EGM) to resolve the current impasse, the the MCA leadership crisis, is said to be ac-
president as well as his new deputy, Datuk Seri tively consolidating his power in Johor, at
Liow Tiong Lai, are said to have contacted Chua the expense of party president Datuk Seri
in a bid to seek his support, Nanyang Siang Pau Ong Tee Keat.
reported yesterday. According to a report in China Press
However, sources told the daily that fol- yesterday, Ong who is Johor MCA liaison
lowing an impromptu meeting on Tuesday chief is losing support in the state for not
night, Chua’s camp is adopting a wait-and-see stepping down after narrowly losing a no-
attitude and has not decided on whom it will confidence vote at the Oct 10 EGM.
work with. His support rate is said to have plum-
Sources from Chua’s camp said since the meted to 30% from 60% before the EGM.
“mutiny” bid (in which some 20 central com- His loss is seen as Tan’s gain.
mittee (CC) members apparently signed a joint According to the report, many division
letter asking Ong to step down at the CC meet- heads have received calls from Ong’s men
ing last Thursday), Chua has been watching the seeking their continued support for the
drama in the ruling camp from the sidelines. president but most of these grassroots
Chua, who was replaced as party No. 2 after leaders are said to be unhappy with Ong
the central delegates voted against his rein- for hanging on to the top post. Instead of
statement at the Oct 10 EGM, has been keeping reaffirming their support for Ong, they are
a low profile apart from filing an application switching their support to Tan, who is Johor
with the office of the Registrar of Societies to MCA deputy chief.
get back his post. The report said Tan has the support of 20
Sources said that with more than 1,000 divisions, out of a total of 26 in the state.