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Third force emerges to
challenge ‘greater unity plan’
by Giam Say Khoon
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
KUALA LUMPUR: MCA’s third force players yes-
terday finally found the courage to come out in
the open to challenge the new Datuk Seri Ong Tee
Keat-Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek “leadership”.
Fourteen central committee (CC) members
led by deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai
held a press conference at the MCA headquarters,
demanding Ong explain details of the Greater
Unity Plan promoted by himself and Chua.
The CC has 43 members.
Among key players flanking Liow are MCA
Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong (deputy educa-
tion minister), Wanita chief Datin Paduka Chew
Mei Fun (deputy women, family and community
development minister), Datuk Chor Chee Heung
(deputy finance minister) and Wee Jeck Seng
(deputy youth and sports minister).
Liow said he and members of the CC were
not consulted nor briefed by Ong when the duo
“drafted” the plan before its announcement last
Thursday.
He said the plan was not presented to the CC
for discussion and “we do not have any idea about
it at all”.
BM initiative should have
support of all: Rais
KUALA LUMPUR: Efforts to improve and
increase the use of Malay as the national
language should be supported by all races,
says Information, Communication and
Culture Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim.
“It was decided by the cabinet (at
a meeting on Oct 7) that the national
language is the only element that can
enhance the 1Malaysia plan. This duty has
subsidiary matters, one being to ensure
that the non-Malay communities champion
matters relating to the national language,
so it is not seen that only Malays were
doing so,” he said yesterday.
“We call for all non-Malays to play an
important role, and the government will
try to include them by various means. A
unit will be formed to determine how the
national language can be further devel-
oped and be effective as a language of
knowledge for our community,” Rais said
after launching a Malay Language Seminar
at Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
MACC nabs ex-sec-gen
PETALING JAYA: A former ministry
secretary-general was arrested by the
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission
in connection with the issuance of
grants for projects in Penang.
The MACC said in a statement the
56-year-old suspect was arrested at its
headquarters in Putrajaya and sched-
uled to be charged today.
“We think the party should collectively discuss
and make a decision to avoid giving the impres-
sion that the leadership is breaking ranks and
losing the confidence of the people,” Liow said.
“Any major reshuffle in the party, when it is
facing a crisis, will trigger suspicions and conflicts.
The party will also stop functioning.
“Therefore, details of the plan must
come from a collective agreement so that it can
become the action plan of the party. Its implemen-
tation must be discussed and agreed by the CC;
we will support a unity plan based on the wishes
of party members.”
While also stressing that the outcome of the
Oct 10 extraordinary general meeting (EGM) must
be respected, Liow declined to state whether
he and his supporters were rejecting the plan
or that they wanted Ong to step down as party
president.
Chew interrupted to say: “We are very disap-
pointed at Ong’s action not to inform the entire
committee of the plan.”
Meanwhile, Wee said the EGM was the highest
authority to determine the future of the party and
that all parties should respect the outcome of the
meeting as no one was above it.
On Ong’s explanation that he was staying on to
theSun | WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 28 2009
IN
Sheikh
Muszaphar
fails to
have suit
INTERVIEWS VIEWS
TOMORROW!
quashed
pg 7
uphold public trust in him, Liow said: “That’s the
president’s explanation.”
He also denied that CC members had con-
spired to oust Ong.
“Some CC members had asked about his
intention, but he (Ong) was not brave enough to
say that he would stay on as president. Since the
CC members were unclear of his intention, we
met at the Nikko Hotel on the evening of Oct 14
and it was agreed that I talk to Ong to determine
the future of the party,” Liow said.
“We are shocked and saddened that we are
now labelled as traitors.”
In PETALING JAYA, Bernama reported Ong as
saying he wanted a stop to statements which are
not conducive to the party’s unity. Carif is working with selected
“Anybody in his right frame of mind would
certainly know the weightage ... which one local and international
should take the back seat and which one should partners to systematically develop
be given priority in the interest of the community, new cancer therapies from the
the Malaysian people and the nation,” he said country’s vast natural resources.”
after attending the Marseilles Fos Port Authority
roadshow and signing ceremony of the halal hub – Prof (Dr) Teo Soo-Hwang
sister port hub agreement yesterday. Cancer Research Initiatives Foundation
Asked on Liow’s statement that he had no (Carif) CEO
knowledge about the unity plan, the president
said: “Don’t forget he was there.”
KAMARIDUAN MOHD NOR/THESUN
Home minister
confirms receipt
of Chua’s letter
by Hemananthani Sivanandam and Kong See Hoh
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
KUALA LUMPUR: Home Minister Datuk Seri
Hishammuddin Hussein yesterday confirmed
receiving a letter from former MCA deputy presi-
dent Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek after the registrar
of societies (ROS) ruled that it cannot interfere in
an internal dispute of the party.
However, he said he was unable to clarify
whether the letter Chua sent on Monday contained
an appeal for his reinstatement as deputy presi-
dent.
“I have to check whether the letter contains
additional information or whether it is an appeal.
I also need to consult the ministry’s legal depart-
ment for advice,” Hishammuddin told reporters at
the parliament lobby.
“If it is an appeal, then I’ll make the final say on
his status in the party.”
He said the Societies Act 1966 was “silent” on the
matter pertaining to Chua’s requesting a clarifica-
tion from the ROS as to his position in the party.
“However, this is not the end of the matter, as
under Section 18 of the Act, anyone unhappy with
the ROS’s decision can appeal to the minister.”
The MCA presidential council had on Aug 26
endorsed the party disciplinary board’s recom-
mendation to expel Chua for tarnishing the MCA’s
image with his involvement in a sex video clip. The
central committee (CC) then rejected the expulsion
and instead suspended Chua for four years.
Culture An Oct 10 extraordinary general meeting went
on to reinstate Chua’s membership, with the cen-
mix ... tral delegates however choosing not to return him
Officers of the as deputy president.
Tourism Ministry China Press reported yesterday that Chua would
showcase submit an appeal to the ROS within the week, ask-
the Cuti-Cuti ing it to reconsider whether it had the power to
1 Malaysia declare him as the rightful party No. 2.
dance at the It was learnt that Chua could have been reinstat-
Saloma Theatre ed if not for the intervention of two political leaders,
yesterday. one from the MCA and the other from Umno.
Incorporated A source from Chua’s camp said that although
into the his request had been rejected, he had not given up
dance are the hope and had asked his legal advisers to study the
influences of matter prior to submitting an appeal.
eight cultures Chua’s reinstatement is seen as crucial to the
including that success of the MCA’s Greater Unity Plan.
of the Malays, A central delegate told the daily that grassroots
Chinese, supporters of newly elected deputy president Datuk
Indians and Seri Liow Tiong Lai were sceptical of the plan that
the indigenous had brought Ong and Chua together, and don’t
peoples of believe it can be realised if Chua fails to secure his
Sabah and position as No. 2.
Sarawak. Liow was elected deputy president by the 43-
member CC.