MCA president Ong Tee Keat landed a double blow on the rival faction led by vice-president Liow Tiong Lai by removing two of the latter's allies from the presidential council and denying the party's endorsement for the Nov 28 extraordinary general meeting.

NONE After a four hour-long meeting today, the central committee resolved to reject the Nov 28 EGM on the grounds that the proposed resolutions were "defective" and against the party constitution.

The notice of the EGM was also disputed, although no details were forthcoming during the press conference after the meeting.

Ong revealed that 23 central committee members voted against the EGM while 10 supported it. Two abstained.

The Nov 28 EGM was moved by Liow's allies in a bid to seek permission of the delegates to push for fresh polls of top office bearers, in a bid to recognise the Oct 10 EGM which passed a vote of no-confidence against Ong.

Council reshuffle

Ong later announced the new line-up for the presidential council, appointed solely at his discretion, which unexpectedly saw Liow's allies being dropped.

NONE Among those dropped were Youth wing chief Wee Ka Siong ( left ), Women's wing chief Chew Mei Fun along with two Nov 28 EGM requisitionist Wong Nai Chee and Wee Jeck Seng.

The nine dropped from the central committee were replaced with Ong loyalists which include Youth wing deputy chief Dr Mah Hang Soon, Women’s wing secretary-general Heng Seai Kie and central committee member Ti Lian Ker.

Ong also announced that Ti, a lawyer and former state assemblyperson, would now lead the party think-tank Insap.

The president said the new line up was the result of a "reshuffle", adding that it was unfair to describe them as being "axed" from the council.

"It is done in accordance with the party constitution and of course those by invitation (to the presidential council meeting) would be announced in due course. For each and every session, we may need to have different invitees," he said.

Those invited to the presidential council meeting are allowed to give input but not accorded voting rights.

A move to disunite?

Asked if the reshuffle was part of his 'greater unity plan', Ong provided an ambivalent reply.

NONE "If you interpret it in the right perspective, greater unity plan is not a mathematical model. You need to make the party initiatives work.

"Since we have already identified the initiatives, it is time for us to get down to work," he said.

Liow, Wee and Chew were all absent from the press conference and were believed to have convened a separate meeting within the MCA headquarters.

The latest developments have weakened Liow's position considerably as he is the sole dissenting voice in the presidential council and commands less than a third of the central committee.

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