8/14/2019 TheSun 2009-10-16 Page01 Tee Keat Hangs On

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like the direct election of the MCApresidency and the Port Klang FreeZone (PKFZ) issue.

He said it is his wish to see suchissues be addressed without anyabrupt disruption.

I would also like to congratu-late Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Laion his election as the deputypresident after due deliberationsby the CC, he said.

Ong also apologised to the peopleif they felt that he had not lived up totheir expectations.

I want to assure them that so longas I continue as (Pandan) MP andremain a discerning Malaysian, I willcontinue to pursue the PKFZ case inwhatever capacity available to me.

To my aspiring MCA colleagues,I must apologise if I stand in the wayof your political ascendency. Thathas never been my intention.

To the genuine party membersand workers, please do continuewith your endeavour to

h e l ps t r e n g t h e n

the party butdo refrain fromplaying into thehands of ma-nipulators andopportunists.

Life hasto go onand I haveno regretsover anyd e c i -s i o na n de n -

deavour I had embarked upon, hesaid.

Liow, who looked grim and wor-ried after the CC meeting, refused tocomment on the decisions made.

Later at a press conference, hesaid most of the CC members didnot agree with Ongs decision to callfor an EGM to decide if fresh pollsare needed.

Vice-presidents Datuk Seri KongCho Ha and Datuk Seri Dr Ng YenYen only smiled when asked on themeetings outcome.

Wanita chief Datin Paduka ChewMei Fun said there was no objectionfrom the CC members to elect Liowas deputy president because hisposition will only be interim.

Member of Audit Bureau of Circulations (Malaysia)

No. 4866 PP 2644/12/2009 (023092)

FridayOctober 16, 2009

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We wish all Hindu readers HAPPY DEEPAVALI.

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If we look after theIf we look after thewelfare of all races,welfare of all races,likewise the rakyatlikewise the rakyatregardless of their raceregardless of their raceand ethnicity will throwand ethnicity will throwtheir support behind ustheir support behind usand support our partyand support our partyleadership.leadership.If anyone accusesIf anyone accusesUmno of being a racistUmno of being a racistparty with no basis,party with no basis,they have to thoroughlythey have to thoroughlyscrutinise their ownscrutinise their ownreflection in the mirrorreflection in the mirrorfirst. They have to wakefirst. They have to wakeup to the reality aboutup to the reality aboutthe composition of racesthe composition of raceswithin their own parties.within their own parties.It is crazy to use theIt is crazy to use thesame method of doingsame method of doingsomething and thensomething and thenexpect different results.expect different results.In implementing a policyIn implementing a policyfor instance we cannotfor instance we cannotbe too dogmatic untilbe too dogmatic untilthe focus is more on thethe focus is more on themethods used rathermethods used ratherthan the result.than the result.

IN his maiden policy speechto Umno delegates yester-day, party president Datuk

Seri Najib Abdul Razak calledon members to transform the

party into an inclusive one thatputs the rakyat above self-interest. If Umno is seen asa party which is arrogant andignorant the rakyat will nolonger look towards Umno fora solution but will consider it asa part of a problem, he said.

The Rakyat sent us aThe Rakyat sent us astrong message in thestrong message in the12th general election.12th general election.With that we haveWith that we haverealised our mistakesrealised our mistakesand are repentant. Weand are repentant. Weknow the rakyat lovesknow the rakyat lovesUmno. All they want isUmno. All they want isfor Umno to change. Wefor Umno to change. Wehave heard them. Wehave heard them. Wewill change.will change.

Those who no longerThose who no longerneed crutches (aid from theneed crutches (aid from thegovernment) and say they cangovernment) and say they canthrow them away now need to thinkthrow them away now need to thinkabout other Malays who still need them.about other Malays who still need them.Is it fair to deny this group of a crutch justIs it fair to deny this group of a crutch justbecause those who have depended on it forbecause those who have depended on it fora period of time now no longer need it?a period of time now no longer need it?

Peopleaboveself

Full report on Page 2

Tee Keat

hangs onby Giam Say Khoonnewsdesk@thesundaily.com

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk SeriOng Tee Keat is staying putas MCA president despitethe partys central delegates

approving a no-confidence motionin his leadership at last Saturdaysextraordinary general meeting.

He has instead called for anotherEGM to decide if there should befresh elections for the central

committee (CC).The CC, which met for four hours

yesterday, also appointed vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Laias deputy president.

There was no press conferenceand Ong posted a statement onhis blog (www.ongteekeat.com) toexplain the decisions.

Ong, who said before the Oct 10EGM that he would have to resignif he lost the no-confidence resolu-tion by a simple majority, thankedsupporters who had shown deepconcern and encouraged himfollowing the EGM. He said he washeartened by calls urging him tostay as party president.

Over the years, my politicalcareer has been guided by my con-science and the peoples aspirations.

People who know me well knowthat I uphold my principles in mypolitical practice. It has never beenmy practice to renege on my words,including what I had pledged earlier

with regard to the outcome of theEGM, he said.

He said that the disciplinaryaction to suspend former deputypresident Datuk Seri Dr Chua SoiLek for tarnishing the partys imagewas a collective decision of the partypresidential council and CC.

Hence, the onus and respon-sibility is not on me alone, butcollectively. That being the case, Ihad proposed to have fresh polls toseek a fresh mandate from the party,

especially the outcome of the EGMwas inconclusive and indicate thatthe grassroots were divided.

The best way out of this situa-tion is to seek the re-affirmation ofthe MCA leadership.

However any hopes for freshpolls were dashed because certainquarters are worried that I wouldrenege on my word and decide tostay as the party president. This isabsolutely baseless, he said.

Ong said because of this, he haddecided to go back to the grassrootsand he had directed party secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng tocall for an EGM under Article 30.1of the party constitution to decidewhether the party should hold freshpolls. The EGM will allow delegatesto end the impasse over whether theCC should seek a fresh mandate, hesaid.

Ong disclosed that he still hasa long list of unfinished businessinvolving party and public interests,

ONG CALLS EGM TO DECIDE ON FRESHPOLLS, LIOW APPOINTED MCA NO. 2

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