The simmering undercurrent political struggle in MCA between the two factions of party president Ong Tee Keat and his deputy Chua Soi Lek has erupted in the open in Perak.

Six party divisions out of the 24 in the state are calling for the suspension of the party chief.

In the open rebellion, sixteen leaders, of whom 13 are central working committee members, came from the MCA divisions of Bagan Datoh, Kampar, Tambun, Batu Gajah, Ipoh Timor and Ipoh Barat.

NONE Lee, who is also Batu Gajah party deputy chair, called on MCA disciplinary committee chief Ng Cheng Kiat to start an investigation into the allegations of the RM10 million donation given to Ong personally as political funds, by Sarawak tycoon turned politician Tiong King Sing.

"The disciplinary committee must carry out an investigation or inquest into the aforesaid allegation against Ong in the interest, image and integrity of the party.

"At the same time, the committee must grant an order against Ong with immediate effect to cease and suspend his authority to carry out any affairs for and/or in the name of the party until or unless the truth is established and his name is cleared," he said.

Issue standing order

Lee also wants the committee to issue a standing order to Ong to ensure that his private and personal affairs are totally isolated from party matters in order to prevent Ong from using the party name for his own personal agenda.

"This we believe will either directly or indirectly avoid the party name from being smeared or tarnished by the above scandal," he reasoned.

Speculations have been rife for the past few months that Chua's faction wants to call for an EGM to remove Ong from his post and be replaced with Soi Lek.

MCA's image took a political beating when it was hit with many scandals, one after another, and the party members are reeling from its effects as the party is thrown into choppy political waters with no stabilising factor or an immediate amicable solution in sight.

"We cannot go to the ground without people asking about the alleged RM10 million issue which is not only embarrassing to us but it also greatly tarnishes the image of the party," Lee said.

"We are calling for this drastic action in order to safeguard the party's image from further erosion.

"Chua can take temporary control of the party until Ong is cleared of the alleged scandal," he further added.

Tomorrow, Lee and a few other party members will personally hand over a letter to Ng requesting for an inquest into the alleged RM10 million donation.

Ong has denied the allegation and filed a defamation suit against Tiong for RM500 million.