The proposal to limit the age of members in MCA Youth from the current 45 to 40 is expected to be the main issue discussed in the party's 51st general assembly, which kicks off tomorrow.

The proposal to limit the age of the Youth chief to 45 is also expected to dominate the meet.

At present, 45 is the age limit for office bearers in the Youth wing except for its chief, who is not bound by the requirement. Incumbent Youth chief Ong Tee Keat is 49 this year.

Tomorrow, the Youth and Wanita wings will hold their respective assemblies while the parent party will convene on Sunday.

The Youth assembly is also expected to discuss the dismissal of the'double secretary-general' system.

The system was introduced in 2002 as part of a 'peace plan' following a leadership tussle in the party, which led to it splitting into two camps - Team A and Team B.

The incumbent secretaries-general are Team A's Loh Seng Kok and Team B's Liow Tiong Lai.

In an interview with Chinese daily Nanyang Siang Pau, Ong insisted that the dismissal of the the system was not aimed at taking power away from anyone, as suggested by some.

Ong, who is aligned to Team B, said he was shocked by the accusation by some quarters that the move was a 'conspiracy' engineered by him.

The two secretary-generals will however continue in their respective posts until next year's assembly when the triennial party election is held.

Unity, education issues

As for the main party, the proposed formula to reduce the number of central delegates to the assembly might be another hot issue for debate.

At a press conference on Tuesday, MCA president Ong Ka Ting announced that the party central committee accepted the proposal to amend the constitution to allow the adjustment to the number of delegates.

However, the proposal would not be in the form of a resolution in the coming assembly, as resolutions have to be submitted 21 days before the meet.

In an interview with Sin Chew Daily, MCA secretary-general Ting Chew Peh said the re-consolidation and unity of the party as well as education issues would be the main focus this year.

He added there no motion had been submitted to discuss the proposed merger between MCA and Gerakan.

A total of 2,694 delegates are expected to attended the meet, which will be officiated by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Sunday.

Since the stitching of a peace deal between the two factions two years ago and given that there is no party election this year, the general assembly is expected to be a low-key affair.