Published on: Friday, October 09, 2009 |
Kuala Lumpur: MCA's neutral central delegates hope that both President Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and his suspended Deputy Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek will make way for a new team to lead the party.
They believe that only then will the conflicts in the party be resolved.
The central delegates are currently divided into four groups - pro-Ong, pro-Chua, the so-called "third force" and the "not-to-be-dismissed neutral camp".
Those in the neutral camp share a common desire to see an end to the infighting and the closing of ranks.
Sources said the neutral delegates, who account for about a third of the total of 2,400, are a mixture of veteran leaders and young turks.
"Their grouses against Ong are generally related to the "middle men" he despatched to various states.
Some of the "middle men" named by the sources are central committee member from Kedah Chua Kim Chuan, Kedah liaison committee chairman Lim Lye Huat, Penang liaison deputy chairman Eng Hiap Boon, Selangor organising secretary Lee Wei Kiat and Puchong chairman Wong Hock Aun.
This, coupled with the president's hardline leadership style, has evoked discontent towards him."
Sources said the neutral delegates also do not want Chua to take over as party chief as they believe that MCA, which is supposed to represent the Chinese community, cannot be helmed by a morally-tainted leader.
"The sex DVD incident has already become a liability to MCA.
"How is MCA, which espouses Confucius' teachings and philosophy, going to win the respect and support of the Chinese community if it is led by such a leader?
"Chua won in the party election because delegates had believed he was more capable than his two opponents.
However, he failed to play the role of a good No. 2."
The sources also said the neutral delegates want two top men who are able to work with each other seamlessly to lead the party to avoid more leadership conflicts.
Although they may not think alike as to who should take over from Ong and Chua, they believed that if both are voted out, a new team will be elected fair and square through an election.
