Cho Ha: MCA's national elections on Dec 21, cannot be delayed OR BROUGHT FORWARD

I would like to stress that all preparatory works for the MCA party elections are underway in accordance with standard procedures and in thorough compliance of the party Constitution. Any allegations that the party polls may be delayed are completely inaccurate.

After the 5 May 2013 general elections, the MCA President on 11 May 2013 convened a Presidential Council meeting which had resolved to elect a Party HQ Elections Steering Committee to prepare for the party polls and expand on party elections-related work to ensure that the MCA elections are conducted in the spirit of democracy and are transparent, fair and orderly.

The MCA Central Committee at its meeting held on 21 May 2013 had resolved that party election at the branch level (including Youth and Wanita) are to commence on 15 July 2013 with the national level party election to be held on 21 December 2013, and the Annual General Assembly to be held on 22 December 2013. Attached, please find the schedule of the 2013 MCA party elections at all levels. The MCA party polls schedule is also available from http://www.mca.org.my/en/2013-party-election/mca-election/election-schedule/

I wish to emphasise that the party elections are carried out in accordance with the party Constitution and cannot be changed or delayed. Party elections at every level must be conducted in accordance to a pre-determined schedule.

The MCA party elections process begins from the grassroots Branch level, followed with party polls at the Division level, State level election for Youth and Wanita leaderships, and finally with the national level to elect Central Committee members at the set date. The whole process generally takes five months to complete. In accordance with the election procedures and the party Constitution, the MCA HQ Party Elections Steering Committee has worked out a specific timetable for party polls at all levels of the party.

The reason the MCA national level party election is to be held nearing the end of the year is entirely in accordance with standard procedures and schedule as per given timetable to ensure compliance with the party Constitution. Meanwhile, the Central Committee has also resolved to agree to the party elections schedule and process.

I regret the occurrences of remarks by certain party leaders that the party elections have dragged on until December as they should know better and understand. All levels of the party election must be conducted in accordance with the schedule. Elections at all level require a lot of time as this incudes collection of membership registers for branch, division, state leadership; display and audit of membership registers, sending out notice of meetings including State Youth/Wanita elections, etc. for example, Article 165.1 of the party Constitution reads that “Any Meeting of the General Assembly – at least twenty-one (21) days’ notice”, while Article 165.2 reads that “Any Divisional or Branch Assembly – at least fourteen (14) days’ notice”. Therefore, the entire party elections process cannot be achieved overnight.

Enclosure: Schedule of 2013 Party Elections

Dato’ Seri Kong Cho Ha
MCA HQ Party Elections Steering Committee Chairman
MCA Secretary General