KUALA LUMPUR: MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has been appointed the party's new Johor chief.

Party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, who held the post previously, made the announcement on his blog www.ongteekeat.net yesterday.

"I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Dr Chua on his appointment as the new Johor MCA liaison committee chairman," he said.

Dr Chua served as Johor chief between 2003 and 2008. However, he resigned from his party and government posts over the sex DVD scandal.

On the party's greater unity plan (GUP), which was endorsed by the central committee (CC) on Wednesday, Ong said it needed to be realised and implemented swiftly.

"I need a team that is 100% behind the effort to bring back unity to the MCA in time for the next general election," he said.

To achieve this, Ong said he had reshuffled some positions in the party and included leaders with the right sets of skills, experience and vision to roll out the GUP, which had received two-thirds support from the CC.

"We can ill-afford to have leaders who are against the GUP - much less those out to derail a plan which has received the blessings of the Prime Minister - to be in the MCA presidential council," he said.

Under Article 47 of the MCA constitution, Ong said the presidential council (PC) was the administrative body delegated with the authority to carry out decisions made by the CC.

"The presidential council, as the name suggests, is the body the president entrusts to implement decisions made by the CC and general assembly."

"The implementation of the GUP is one example."

"The GUP was endorsed in a democratic fashion by the CC on Wednesday and now is the time for the PC, as the implementing body, to deliver."

"This is a fundamental principle practiced by successful managers the world over," he said.

In any case, Ong said, it was not correct to say that the MCA Youth and Wanita wings had been snubbed by being excluded from the PC.

"In fact, both of them can still sit in to air their views as invited members of the PC," he said.

Ong said it was important that all party leaders set aside their differences for the sake of unity.

"The MCA cannot afford to lose any more time to win back support from the public in time for the next general election."

"This is why I can work with Dr Chua despite our past differences," he said.