MCA EGM: The show of the year on 111111?

1. After the first EGM that was done a few days ago on 101010, many including me had thought that OTK will resign. The first EGM result was surprising enough as no one had predicted the way the voting results had turn out. Many had expected it to be an “all or none” kind of result which would decide the fate of OTK and CSL.

2. Like many others, I too was anxiously waiting for the outcome of the MCA central committee meeting that took place today. Mahathir in his usual brash said that both OTK and CSL should resign. Many had expected my University mate, Dato Sri  Liow Tiong Lai (LTL) to take over as the acting MCA president. I had predicted the same and told my boss this morning that the most likely outcome would be that OTK would resign because of his principles and LTL will be the caretaker Chairman. It turns out that I was wrong big time. It also shows that world of politics does not usually works in the way ordinary people would think. I think many punters lost money as well today because OTK did not resign.

3. The MCA central committee was certainly divided on the next course of decision and the best decision is to let the members decide. This is indirectly what the MCA central committee did. I will explain why I said indirectly in the subsequent paragraph. At the moment it is quite clear that CSL has been further sidelined and the appointment of LTL has made it quite difficult for CSL to come back into his number 2 position.

4. The MCA central committee has decided to let its members decide whether an Extraordinary AGM should be called to resolve the current leadership crisis. I thought the resolution of the EGM should  be whether OTK  or the central committee should resign en bloc. Instead the resolution is to decide whether an Ex-AGM should be called. This is one way for OTK and those behind him in the central committee to save face and stay in power. I think if the resolution  calling for OTK to resign, based on the recent EGM result he might just exit MCA in a dishonorable manner.

5. The central committee decision asking for members to decide on the calling of  Ex-AGM, it would mean that not the President and its central committee must resign but all  the office bearers at every level of MCA organizational structure must resign. This is a brilliant move. In a way the central committee has made it an equal opportunity  for everyone to win or to lose in the event that the AGM will be held. This would also means that the CSL and OTK would have equal opportunity to re-contest the various positions again.

6. The delegates that will attend the upcoming EGM will not only decide the fate of the president and the central committee but their own fate as well. Those who had opposed OTK in the recent EGM must do some serious thought if they chose to have an Ex- AGM. In the next AGM even their position will also be contested and they may just lose their own position again. In a way the delegates will be in a catch 22 position. In Malay, there is a proverb that says “ Ditelan mati mak, diludah mati bapak” which aptly describe the situation.

7. Indirectly, OTK has reinforced his position and forces the delegates to make a tough decision. The next big question would be when the MCA Secretary General would call for the EGM. Would it be on 11111? Politics never fails to entertain me proven me wrong. It shows that I can never be a politician.