The powerful MCA central committee has elected vice-president Liow Tiong Lai as the new deputy president after a three-hour meeting this afternoon.

mca supporter gather for ong tee keat 151009 ong tee keat

The meeting ended with embattled MCA president Ong Tee Keat staying put in his post and invoking his powers to call another extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to determine whether fresh elections be held.

Ong, who lost a motion of no confidence at a party EGM last Saturday, chaired the central committee meeting at 2pm today.

It is learnt that Ong had wanted the whole MCA leadership to resign to pave way for fresh polls.

Earlier today, some 500 people armed with banners gathered outside the MCA headquarters in Kuala Lumpur in support of the president.

Signature campaign

They also initiated a signature campaign for the public to back Ong, who is under pressure to resign.

mca supporter gather for ong tee keat 151009 banner 03 "We want Ong Tee Keat," they chanted.

The morning's drizzle did not dampen their fervour as they waited under the front eaves of the MCA building.

mca supporter gather for ong tee keat 151009 liow tiong lai At 12.20am, Liow arrived at the party headquarters and was greeted with a thunderous applause.

Asked whether he would urge Ong not to quit, he nodded his head and said, "We will discuss it thoroughly at the CC meeting."

Meanwhile, Ong was seen outside the party building at 12.30pm.

He took five minutes to shake hands with well-wishers before going into Wisma MCA.

full page advertisement supporting ong tee keat 141009 Yesterday, Ong's supporters had also run full-page advertisements in several Chinese dailies in support of the president.

Observers said this is an attempt to show that Chinese Malaysians are behind the MCA chief and the wishes of the community is bigger than that of party members.

Key leaders who attended this afternoon's meeting included secretary-general Wong Foon Meng and the four party vice-presidents - Liow, Kong Chor Ha, Dr Ng Yen Yen and Tan Kok Hong.

The CC members from Chua's faction included Tan Chai Ho, Loh Seng Kok, Chong Itt Chew and Tee Siew Kiong.

There are 42 members in the CC, of which 12 are appointed by the president.

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