MCA Youth has called for the Barisan Nasional leadership composition to be restructured, demanding that an additional No 2 post be created and held by the Chinese-based party.
Speaking at the wing’s 45th annual general meeting in Kuala Lumpur today, MCA Youth chief Liow Tiong Lai said it was high time for the reform to be carried out at the BN level.
“The BN structure has to properly reflect on the position, importance and the representation of all the component parties,” he said in his farewell speech.
“For instance, we support Umno to be the BN chair but we should increase the deputy chairperson's post to two, of which one is held by the MCA leader,” Liow said to thunderous applause from delegates.
At present, the position of BN deputy chair goes to Umno and is held by the Umno deputy president by convention. Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is the BN deputy chairperson.
Liow, who was speaking in Mandarin earlier, repeated this part of his speech in Bahasa Malaysia - an apparent move to avoid the embarrassment at the Youth wing meet last year.
Among the guests present at the assembly held at the MCA headquarters in Jalan Ampang were deputy president Chan Kong Choy who officiated at the opening, Umno Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein and his deputy, Khairy Jamaluddin.
Umno must not hold all posts
Towards the end of his speech, Liow - who has been the MCA Youth chief since 2005 and is contesting the vice-president's post this year - was in tears when he bid farewell.
He appealed for the wing’s support for his vice-presidential bid.
Liow will be succeeded by the MCA Youth secretary Wee Ka Siong who has won the post uncontested. The triennial party elections will be held after the opening ceremony this morning.
Elaborating on his proposal, Liow said key BN positions, such as the secretary-general and treasurer, can also be held by other component party leaders and not necessary by those from Umno only.
He also called for the BN resources to be distributed equally during the re-structuring exercise.
“In the past, Umno from the divisions to its central leadership, have monopolised BN resources. This should be reviewed and only then will the people see the BN’s determination and sincerity to reform,” said Liow, who is also the health minister.
Referring to the party’s humiliating electoral outing in the March general election, Liow said party members should keep up its fighting spirit.
The MCA Youth’s proposal today can be described as an attempt by the party to be more vocal as views have been expressed by Chinese voters to the effect that MCA has been subservient to Umno. 
Opening the annual Youth meet, MCA deputy president Chan Kong Choy hopes that the new Umno leadership under Najib will lead other component parties in carrying out genuine reforms in the BN.
“Not too long ago, Najib at a Hari Raya gathering in Sabah has pointed out that if the government does not change, the people will change the government.
“I deeply believe that the deputy premier’s view is a consensus among the Umno top leadership. Since there is a consensus, we should be decisive and quick in carrying out the reforms,” said Chan.
A record of 1,578 delegates, or 89 percent of attendance, was registered for this year's meeting. There are a total of 1,773 eligible delegates.
The polling has begun at 12.20pm and election results are expected to be known at about 5.30pm.
Two deputy prime ministers?
Speaking at a press conference later, Liow was asked whether his proposal meant that he was also suggesting for two deputy prime minister posts eventually.
“Let’s go into BN reforms first then we will go into government reform [...] one step at a time,” replied the MCA Youth chief who also dismissed suggestion that his proposal will prompt other ruling parties such as the MIC to make similar calls.
Asked on the same issue, Chan lent his support to the MCA Youth.
“It’s a very appropriate proposal. Looking back at BN's history, there is no hard and fast rule that the Umno leaders must take up the senior posts (in BN),” said the former transport minister.
Citing an example, he said former party deputy president Michael Chen was the BN secretary-general when the ruling coalition was formed in 1974.
In a related development, Hishammuddin told reporters that he was open to discussion on Liow’s proposal as he saw it as part of the effort to reform BN.
However, he said the final decision should be left to BN chairperson Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib to decide.
He denied the MCA Youth’s proposal is a move to "strike back" at Umno, saying that ties among BN component parties are still very strong - malaysiakini.com
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment