OTK and CSL made peace

OTK and CSL berkawan baik again. So fast? Intervention from Najib, I guess :)

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek have set aside their differences and agreed to work as a team.

The move, Ong said, was a breakthrough that would unite the party and help resolve issues concerning its leadership.

Ong read out a statement to the media in the presence of Dr Chua and other MCA leaders at the party headquarters at Wisma MCA here yesterday.

This is the first time both Ong and Dr Chua have appeared together at a press conference after some time.

Both have been at loggerheads since party elections last year when Ong was elected president and Dr Chua his deputy.

Ong said Dr Chua had agreed to work with him without setting pre-conditions.

Describing it as the "greater unity plan," Ong said it had received the blessing and support of the Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Ong said Najib had been briefed on the latest developments.

He said he had also accepted a suggestion by deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai to work together closely for the greater good of the party.

"In the light of the present scenario, I will talk to party secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng about reviewing the call for an extraordinary general meeting," he said.

On Oct 15 after a central committee meeting, Ong had asked Wong to call for an EGM to determine whether fresh elections should be called for the central committee.

Ong said this was the time to "forgive and forget" and look at the bigger picture.

He said one had to look at not what was good for the individual but for the party.

"I will reach out to all leaders and strive to form an all-inclusive MCA that will include all factions and personalities who can contribute as a team.

"With a unified MCA, the leaders can now re-focus their attention on strengthening the party to regain the confidence and trust of the Chinese community and Malaysians in general," he said.

On Dr Chua's role in the party in the light of the latest development, Ong said all leaders would brainstorm further and it was premature to draw any conclusion.

Asked whether the plan would result in Liow remaining in his position as party No. 2, Ong said:

"This issue does not arise. Liow was elected by the central committee on Oct 15. His position is therefore very clear," he said.

On whether he could work with Dr Chua, Ong said they would be able to work it out and he was optimistic in view of their commitment to the party's cause.

To a question whether he would keep his word to resign if he failed to win the resolution of no confidence during the Oct 10 EGM, Ong said:

"It is time to weigh between public trust and the personal pledge that I made earlier.

"In the name of public trust, it is only fair if I, in my capacity as MCA president, endeavour to live up to the expectations of the people," he said.

Ong said he had received numerous letters, e-mails and text messages which were full of words of encouragement.

He added that there was open support from various segments of the community in the past two weeks.

"We have unfinished work to do. This is just the beginning. We need to put in our full commitment to make it work," he said.

Asked whether he had met Najib on Wednesday night, Ong said he met with Najib "every now and then".

"It is not just last night. We have been meeting in the past few days," he said.

Source: The Star