PETALING JAYA (Nov 20, 2009):

Sources say MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and his deputy, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, met Najib yesterday morning, while renegade vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong and Wanita chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun met the BN chairman later in the afternoon.

Both parties pressed their agenda and laid out their case to Najib, with Ong's camp wanting to implement the Greater Unity Plan before fresh polls are held, while Liow's camp aiming to push ahead with the Nov 28 extraordinary general meeting to call for immediate elections.

The sources said Najib has not given any recommendations to either factions.

However, Liow's camp had proposed that the party election can be held next month during the annual general meeting, which the party must hold it by end of the year although the meeting has been fixed on Dec 5.

Sources disclosed that if such an arrangement can be achieved, the Nov 28 EGM will be cancelled but since there was no decision made so far, the faction will continue to push for the EGM through nationwide briefings.

On Ong's side, sources said Ong and Chua proposed that a fresh poll can be held within a year after the implementation of the GUP.

Ong Tee Keat

Liow Tiong Lai

Najib yesterday commented that the situation in the party has turned "worse" and "more serious" after Ong decided to reshuffle the presidential council on Wednesday, resulting in nine council members including the youth and wanita chiefs aligned with Liow being booted out of the council.

A party insider said Ong's "proposal" was nothing new because both of them had repeatedly said that the GUP should be given a chance of at least six months to run.

"It seems that the party election is inevitable in resolving the party crisis and a year is more than enough for the incumbents to do what they want to do and it is fair enough to have the party election after that.

"Moreover, it will be too rushed to have the party election next month because the leaders will not have enough time to campaign," he said.

Ong, who is Transport Minister, is away in London while Liow was not available for comment when contacted.