updated version The MCA Youth 'Team B' today proposed that all central committee members resign to pave way for a fresh election in order to resolve the ongoing bickering within the wing, but this was immediately rejected by their rivals.

"We think it is best to leave it to the delegates at the upcoming Youth extraordinary general meeting where new leaders are chosen," said the wing's vice-chairperson Liew Yuen Keong when contacted.

Citing requisitions from almost one-third of the 1,512 Youth delegates thus far, he added the EGM may be held sometime this month.

According to party constitution, the wing can call for an EGM on a notice of not less than seven days, with requisitions from at least one-third of its delegates.

The last Youth EGM on June 23, witnessed a majority of delegates voting against the acquisition of two Chinese newspapers by MCA's investment arm - an issue championed by Team B.

Earlier today, Liew called for a press conference together with eight other CC members - known to be supporters of Youth chief Ong Tee Keat - at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

This was followed by another press conference, at the same venue, by those aligned to 'Team A', including MCA Selangor Youth chief Ch'ng Toh Eng.

Ch'ng, who is expected to challenge Ong for the Youth chief post next year, called on the MCA leadership to resolve the differences within the wing as soon as possible.

A Bernama report quoted him as saying that Ong was responsible for 52 contributing factors leading to "endless controversies" in the wing.

These factors include Ong's insistence to call for an EGM in June despite the advice by the party's legal bureau that it was non-constitutional, Ch'ng added.

Political gimmick

The Team B's mass resignation offer was immediately dismissed by their rivals.

Yeow Tiong Look, who was recently reinstated as the wing's secretary-general and a Team A leader, said most of the CC members would not resign as they have been elected to their posts for a term of three years by the delegates.

"The party's election is just a few months away, probably in March, why should we resign now?" he asked.

Yeow attributed the worsening split within the Youth to Ong's attitude which he claimed has "made it difficult for CC members to work together".

He also described the call by Ong's supporters for an en bloc resignation as a "political move" because they realised the Youth chief had lost support among a majority of the CC members.

The Youth CC comprises 41 members - 25 of them aligned to Team A led by party president Dr Ling Liong Sik while the rest support Ong.

Smooth operation

According to Team B leader Liew, a fresh Youth election was necessary to ensure that the wing can operate smoothly until the party elections, which is scheduled to be held before next August.

However, he denied that the call for an en bloc resignation was a move to stop the much-speculated sacking of the Youth chief at the party's central committee meeting tomorrow.

"We heeded the advice of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to resolve the internal crisis amicably," said Liew, who is also MCA Serdang Youth chairperson.

Last Thursday, the Youth chief met Mahathir at the Sultan Abdul Halim Airport in Kedah amid widespread rumours that he would be sacked from his party post soon.

The meeting with the premier generated various speculations - some said Ong was reprimanded for going overboard in recent months while others said the Youth chief wanted to present his side of the story.

'Political move'

On Monday, Mahathir clarified that Ong said he wanted to put an end to the problems in the wing. The premier added that he supported this stand.

MCA Youth has been in the limelight since August after its unruly AGM made headlines. The meet also saw the sacking of two wing leaders - Team B's Yeow and Loh Seng Kok, a former political secretary of party leader Ling.

However, a committee made up of party veterans which was set up to probe the matter resolved last week to reinstate the duo. The committee also held Ong, among others, responsible for the fracas at the AGM, which saw chairs being thrown.

On Dec 8, the fissure within the wing widened when the Ling-aligned CC members chose to proceed with a meeting despite a postponement by Ong.

Yesterday, Team A showed the recording of the meeting to the media which revealed that Ong ignored the request by most of the CC members and adjourned the meeting unilaterally.

The party's presidential council and central committee are due to meet tomorrow to decide on Ong's fate.