KLUANG - Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has been assigned to mediate over the crisis in MCA, according to party’s deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek.

Chua said Muhyiddin had called him twice to inform him that he had been entrusted with the task.

“He called me twice to inform me that he had been assigned by the Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to ensure unity and stability within the party.

“I appreciate the concern shown by the prime minister,” he told reporters before attending a dialogue with Johor MCA leaders and members here yesterday.

Not an intervention

Chua also said the decision by Najib to step in over the MCA crisis should not be viewed as an intervention but rather a show of concern, according to a Star report.

He said it was expected of Najib, as PM and Barisan Nasional chairman, to show concern over developments in component parties.

“If we are not united, then the crisis will affect the other Barisan component parties.

“Thus, it is only natural for him (Najib) to show concern over developments in the party,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported tonight that the two factions are now waiting for Muhyiddin to begin talks to end the impasse on when the fresh party polls should be held.

This is after both sides were said to have come to an understanding that in order to resolve the prolonged crisis, fresh party elections would have to be conducted.

The faction headed by MCA president Ong Tee Keat and his deputy Dr Chua Soi Lek had initially agreed for the party to conduct fresh polls within six to eight months under the direct election system.

Compromise on two issues

However, the latest development indicated that the Ong-Chua faction has compromised on two things -- agreeing for the party to have fresh polls earliest in March next year and agreeing to use the current proportional election system instead of proposed direct election.

In return, the faction led by vice-president Liow Tiong Lai said they were willing to compromise by calling off the Nov 28 extraordinary general meeting, provided the fresh polls take place before the year end.

It seems that the stumbling block or point of contention to resolving the MCA crisis now is the issue of when the party is to hold its fresh elections.

Party insiders said both sides were aware of each other's strengths and knew very well the reasons for the timing being picked as both factions wanted to have a better opportunity to win over the delegates in the fresh polls.

Fresh elections before the year end will allow Liow's faction to capitalise on some sentiments on the ground, while the Ong-Chua faction prefers March next year as it will give them time to explain to the grassroots on their "greater unity plan".

However, Liow's faction is insisting that the party elections be held before the year end, puzzling the Ong-Chua faction who regards them as "uncompromising".

Liow's group wants Dec 5 polls

"We have already compromised on two things. If they are still adamant to have the fresh elections by the year end, then we have no choice but to go ahead with our plan to hold it in eight months' time under the direct election system," said a party leader aligned to the Ong-Chua faction.

But Liow's faction countered that it should not be a problem for fresh polls to be held soon as they would be using the existing 2,400 party delegates while the MCA is also scheduled to hold its annual general meeting (AGM) on Dec 5.

"We can use the Dec 5 AGM to conduct the fresh elections. This crisis should not be prolonged anymore. It has been going on for three months," said a grassroot leader who is aligned to Liow's faction.

There is speculation that if both sides cannot find an acceptable date, another formula may be proposed, with the fresh polls called off and the post of deputy president being vacant. Apart from that, those who have been removed from their respective positions will be reinstated.

Key leaders stay out?

However, this formula is unlikely to work as those in the Ong-Chua faction claim that they have most of the support and should not be subjected to a "minority demand".

Moreover, they claim that such a formula would only be acceptable if all the key leaders from both sides will not contest in the next party elections.

"We have the combined 70 to 80 per cent of the support. The other side, at the most, has only about 30 per cent. The solution is not workable as it is not like the Team A vs Team B fight over the Nanyang takeover issue.

"The fight resulted in the party being split into two as nobody had more than 55 per cent support," said a grassroot leader aligned to the Ong-Dr Chua faction.

The next few days will be crucial in solving the crisis as both sides are now eagerly waiting for Muhyiddin to call them up to finalise the solution.