New MCA membership list to be distributed, says Ling
Party president Dr Ling Liong Sik who said this today, added that the party's steering committee would revise the original list.
"Whatever mistakes will be removed from the list and a new one will be distributed to enable the elections to be carried out," he was quoted by Bernama.
MCA Team B leaders have alleged the existence of phantom members and called for the cleaning up of the list.
Team B leaders and members were also accused of carrying out membership checks by making telephone and house calls of 'members'.
Their rivals, Team A, dismissed this as illegal as the party had not authorised such checks. They urged those who were approached by individuals claiming to conduct membership checks to lodge police reports.
The disputed list also drew an external detractor in the form of DAP member of parliament for Seputeh Teresa Kok, who claimed there were people in her constituency becoming MCA members without their knowledge.
Past leaders commended
Meanwhile, Ling speaking at a school celebration in Malacca today, commended past MCA leaders for their political courage.
"They reached out across time when such cooperation was unfamiliar to many and unpopular to some," he said.
Ling added MCA came into being on Feb 27, 1949 due to efforts of past leaders like Tan Cheng Lock, Lee Hau Shik, Tan Siew Sin and Leong Yew Koh
Also present at the function was deputy president and Ling's rival, Lim Ah Lek.
MCA plunged into turmoil following the controversial acquisition of two Chinese dailies by its investment arm last year.
The divisive deal resulted in a split which saw party leaders and members separate into two camps, better known as Team A and Team B.
Team A is led by Ling which favoured the deal and Team B is helmed by the deputy president.
Tension is mounting between the two factions as the party election, scheduled for June 29, draws closer. It is widely speculated that Lim may contest for the party presidency.
