Instead of festive cheer, a Chinese New Year open house for Malaysian students in London had allegedly spread the influence of a Barisan Nasional (BN) component party.

This saw the Feb 12 event held at the Malaysia Hall come under heavy fireworks on internet forums and weblogs.

The event was funded by the Malaysian Students Department for the United Kingdom and Eire (Masduke), which also manages Malaysia Hall.

The co-organisers were the MCA Club United Kingdom (MCAUK) and the United Kingdom Executive Council for Malaysian Students (UKEC).

"Why is a political party given a platform to publicise its existence at a Hall belonging to the people of Malaysia and at an event paid for by taxpayers?" read one comment posted on a local weblog.

Masduke is a government department under the Higher Education Ministry. It's purpose is to provide a variety of services to assist Malaysian students in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Not stooges

In a nine-page email reply to questions forwarded by malaysiakini earlier this week, UKEC chairperson Wan Mohd Firdaus Wan Mohd Fuaad claimed that the council was apolitical and had an independent source of income.

According to him, MCAUK did not fund the open house although it helped promote the event.

"Personally, (I) accept that the event being done in 'collaboration' with political clubs like Umno Club, MCA and MIC will raise certain eyebrows [...] and by 'collaborating' with these club, it does not mean that we agree with their political views.

"[...] to receive support from the government does not particularly mean that you are being the stooges of the government," he said.

MCA Youth chief Liow Tiong Lai, who is also MCAUK advisor, denied that the event was used by the party to spread its influence.

"That (open house) was not political publicity. The purpose of the club is to take care of the welfare of overseas students," he said.

MCA clubs overseas help students form a deeper understanding of issues and events back home, he added.

"Hence we should encourage students to join the clubs. I believe their activities have little political elements, we should not be so oversensitive," he said when contacted.

Questions forwarded via email to MCAUK pro-tem president Alan Ling Sie Kiong have yet to be answered.