KUALA LUMPUR: The much talked-about MCA fresh polls will not happen this month as efforts by vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai to get 21 elected central committee (CC) members to resign has yet to materialise.

PARTY MEETING: Dr Chua (right) arriving at Wisma MCA to chair the committee’s third meeting. Also at the meeting were Liow (centre) and Senator Chew Mei Fun (left). — Bernama photo

To date, only 13, including Liow, have tendered their resignation letters.

However, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, chairman of the special committee for the fresh party election, said he did not discount the possibility that the poll might be held in February or March.

He believed that more CC members might relinquish their posts, especially after the Chinese New Year festivity.

Adamant that the poll should be in March, the MCA deputy president also said the MCA leaders were resolved for a fresh poll to happen in order to solve the party’s crisis.

Speaking to reporters after chairing the committee’s third meeting at Wisma MCA here, Dr Chua revealed that some CC members had conveyed to him that they would resign at their own will at a date of their choice.

“However, we cannot conclude that the election will not take place. Maybe, some CC members might resign in February or May because they are of the opinion that they want to tender their resignation but do not want to observe the schedule set by certain leaders.

“They want to make their own stand,” he said.

The 13 CC members had submitted their undated resignation letters to party secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng last Dec 15, and set Dec 25 as the deadline for the rest of the elected CC members to follow suit.

Earlier, Dr Chua had also made known his willingness to resign, and when asked by reporters when he would do so, replied: “When I resign, I will let you know”.

He said it was the right and privilege of CC members as to when they wanted to resign.

Dr Chua said the findings of the meeting would be submitted at the next CC meeting.

Meanwhile, Liow who was met by reporters after the meeting, expressed disappointment over the lack of urgency and commitment shown by other CC members in the matter.

“I am disappointed. Since we have decided to have a fresh election, there is no reason to ponder over it for too long,” he said.

He reiterated that the fresh polls should be held as soon as possible so as not to disappoint the grassroots leaders, delegates and the Chinese community at large, who were closely monitoring the party’s protracted crisis.

Liow said he had no intention to find alternatives to push for a fresh poll but would continue to focus on getting more CC members to resign as most of them had agreed to do so.

“If we all agreed on the poll, then let’s do it,” he added. — Bernama