Delegates who are attending the MCA Youth's annual general assembly (AGM) next month are free to bring up any issues during the meeting, including the Nanyang Press takeover controversy.

MCA Youth chief Ong Tee Keat said although the June 24 resolution by the party to take over Nanyang Press should be respected, the youth wing leadership is not going to bar any delegate from bringing up the matter.

"After all, we know that this issue has not come to an end. The crux of the matter now is not on whether to buy or not to buy (Nanyang Press)," he said, referring to the various matters arising from the controversial June 23 Youth extraordinary general meeting (EGM).

Some members had challenged the legality of the EGM which had opposed MCA's takeover of Nanyang Press, the publisher of two major Chinese dailies.

Ong alleged that since then, certain MCA leaders have been orchestrating smear campaigns against a few Youth leaders through poison-pen letters, among other tactics.

He was speaking to journalists last night after holding a dinner and dialogue session in Puchong with Selangor Youth delegates.

At a press conference in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, Ong had announced that he was assuming secretary-general Yew Teong Look's responsibilities in the steering committee to ensure a smooth conduct of the AGM which will be held on Aug 3.

A self-styled democrat, Ong said he does not believe in "stifling the liberty of the Youth delegates" to speak out, adding that he had already given delegates the same freedom at last year's AGM.

Ong said the Youth grassroots have had two weeks to respond to the current issues affecting them and today is the last day for them to submit any resolution for the AGM.

He also said the Selangor Youth delegates have collectively submitted their proposed resolution seeking to endorse the Youth EGM's opposition to the takeover.

'Anything could happen'

During the June 23 EGM, the delegates also cast a no-confidence vote against Yew who was criticised for his failure to perform his duty when instructed by Ong to send out a notice calling for the meeting. The notice was eventually issued by Ong.

In retaliation, Yew had on July 3 issued a notice calling for a Central Committee meeting, which was held about a week later. The meeting, without the presence of Ong and his supporters, declared the EGM invalid because it was allegedly held not in conformity with the party's constitution.

Of the coming AGM, Ong said "anything could happen" and conceded that a motion of no-confidence could even be moved against him.

Based on last month's EGM turnout, Ong maintained substantial support from the Youth grassroots while the majority of the Central Committee members are aligned to Yew.