The two feuding factions in MCA Youth today found another bone of contention when o­ne side questioned the appointment of the wing's new Federal Territory chief which it claimed had breached the peace plan.

Batu division head Hang Chin Peng was appointed as the new chief by FT liaison chairperson Tan Chai Ho after the former secured seven of the 11 division chiefs' votes during a meeting last Friday.

Hang, who is also MCA Youth vice-chairperson, and Tan are aligned to 'Team A', the faction led by party president Dr Ling Liong Sik.

However, Yee Poh Ping - who contested against Hang - said the appointment should not be based o­nly o­n vote counts but include negotiations as well.

"The peace formula adopted by the central committee spelt out clearly that all positions should be status quo and in the event that there are vacancies, they should be filled through discussion and negotiation," said Yee, who is aligned to Team B, spearheaded by party deputy president Lim Ah Lek.

"The meeting (last Friday) was an informal o­ne and the Youth leaders present did not get the formal mandate from their respective committees to vote in the meeting. Therefore, the stand made by them was as individuals," he added during a press conference at the MCA headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Protest ignored

Yee, the Kepong division chief, also claimed that Tan had ignored the protest from four division chiefs and had gone o­n to lead the rest of the divisional leaders to "adamantly" nominate Hang as the new chief.

"We (the four division chiefs) told Tan that Hang is not a suitable nominee as he is involved in a disciplinary case and this would affect the Youth wing's image.

"But Tan still wanted to pick him as the new chief. So we walked out in protest," Yee said.

Hang was accused of leading his division members in a fracas during the Youth annual general assembly in August 2001 which saw delegates throwing punches and chairs at each other.

"If negotiations fail, then the post should be left vacant. The alternative is for Tan to choose a third person, but definitely not Hang as many are unhappy with him," said Yee.

The Kepong, Seputeh, Titiwangsa and Bukit Bintang divisions which are upset with Hang's appointment have also endorsed a protest letter sent to joint secretary-general Liow Tiong Lai which called for an inquiry into the matter.

Liow (photo), who is aligned to Team B, told the same press conference he was shocked that the appointment was made through a single meeting. He promised to probe the matter.

He also hoped that other states - where the state chief posts have not been filled - would work carefully and uphold the peace plan.

The tussle for the MCA Youth chief posts at the state level began after eight incumbents passed the age limit of 45 years and retired last July.

'Shadow committees'

The posts in five states - Selangor, Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan and Perlis - were filled following negotiations moderated by party vice-presidents o­ng Ka Ting and Chan Kong Choy, aligned to Team A and Team B respectively.

However, the mediation failed to conclude positively in Negeri Sembilan, Federal Territory and Penang.

The MCA central committee has directed that the list of Youth chiefs for all states be finalised by Feb 15.

The committee which has 40 members, 31 of whom are aligned to Ling, has been accused of favouring Team A in the appointments.

Liow had told malaysiakini earlier that Team B supporters would resort to drastic measures such as passing a no-confidence vote against Ling and forming 'shadow committees' to run the Youth wing in the states where Team A appoints its own people.