Clear path for Liow to contest MCA presidency?

Though his victory today served as a huge moral boost, party stalwarts say there is no guarantee Liow could repeat his feat at the party’s AGM.

"It doesn't mean by rejecting motion number one, there will be 100 percent support for Liow Tiong Lai for the president’s post. I think, for the next two months, both sides still need to work hard as what Dr Chua's side need to do is to increase their votes by another 200," said MCA Central Committee (CC) member Datuk Paul Kong.

Sunday's EGM decided on four motions. The first is to censure Liow on the grounds of his refusal to accept decisions made by the presidential committee and his "failure as the chairman of the GE13 preparation committee to engage with the grassroots and visit key MCA operation centres," resulting in the party performing badly in 13th General Election.

The other three motions are to revoke the party's resolution of forbidding members from taking up Cabinet, federal government and state government positions, respectively.

Both the first and second motion were rejected by the delegates during the EGM.

MCA DELEGATES HAVE INDEPENDENT MINDS

Kong explained the MCA delegates have independent minds on certain things affecting the party. And it would be equally tough for both Dr Chua and Liow to win their support when comes to the party election.

"Where do the 20 CC members who requested for the EGM stand now. Among them are vice-president Gan Peng Shieu who is tipped to take over the presidency at Dr Chua’s side. How he is going to garner the support when he is one of the 20 CC members who requested for the EGM to censure Liow but was rejected by the delegates," Kong asked.

He said regardless whether Dr Chua going to defend his presidency or otherwise, it would be equally difficult for him or his supporters to contest the party’s top post.

However, a party insider pointed out Dr Chua still has the advantage because with the third and fourth motion being passed, he could now reward the delegates who supported him with positions in the state government, local councils and GLCs.

"There are about 10,000 positions throughout the country that needs to be filled up. By this month, their names have to be submitted for vetting and the appointments are likely to come by December or January next year," said the party insider.

Nevertheless, it is still not clear whether Dr Chua will be defending his presidency. In the event he decides not to contest, the question then is who will be his successor.

Party insiders also do not rule out that Dr Chua and his supporters in the CC may revive their initial "game plan" – resign enbloc from the CC.

By doing so, some of Liow's supporters in the CC won’t get elected as delegates and are barred from contesting.

According to party rules, any current CC member who resigns before the end of their term in Dec, he or she is not be eligible to contest unless elected as the central delegate.