MCA Youth chief Ong Tee Keat today described the decision to appoint party central committee member Chor Chee Cheong to head the investigation into the fracas at the wing's annual general meeting as unconstitutional.

Ong said the decision to appoint Chor was not made unanimously and those with opposing views did not have the opportunity to air their opinions during yesterday's presidential council meeting.

He added that he and a number of others had wanted to pursue a decision made at an earlier council's meeting to raise a proposal to set up a committee of veteran party leaders to probe the fracas.

"However, this proposal was not considered at all and suddenly a decision was made to appoint Chor," Ong told reporters outside the Parliament lobby.

"This does not only make null and void the decisions made at an earlier meeting but also marginalises the disciplinary committee set up according to the party's constitution," he added.

The MCA presidential council yesterday appointed Chor - an ally of party chief Dr Ling Liong Sik - to "coordinate and supervise" investigations into the chair-throwing incident involving scores of Youth members during the wing's AGM in August.

Ling said Chor had been selected as he is a lawyer by profession and the deputy home minister.

"He is the right person to coordinate and supervise the investigations into the reports submitted by the Youth members," he was quoted as saying after chairing the meeting.

He also told a press conference that Chor has the power to appoint "whomever he thinks suitable" to look into various aspects of the matter and report to the council from time to time.

Rational discussion

Ong said it was irrelevant who headed the investigation as long as the procedures were in accordance with the constitution.

He was also disappointed at Ling's comments at yesterday's meeting that deputy party chief Lim Ah Lek - who leads a rival faction within the party - was partial as he had opened the Youth AGM.

"I feel this kind of action will hinder any future discussions in a rational manner. This is not the way to solve problems," Ong said.

"We are also disappointed at 'The Man's' - I call him that now - remark that the fracas was not a disciplinary matter. If [it isn't], what is it then?" he queried.

The MCA Youth committee, headed by acting secretary-general Liow Tiong Lai and former secretary-general Yew Teong Look, have submitted separate reports on the fracas to the council.

Yew, who is known to be close to Ling's faction, was sacked from his post after the wing passed a resolution during the controversial AGM to relieve him of his duties.

Four other reports were also submitted by Youth members and a similar report had been sent to Inspector-General of Police Norian Mai last month.

'Digging our graves'

Ong, however, declined to reveal the contents of the reports and the names of the 10 identified members involved in the fracas.

Asked when he would make the report public, he said, "We'll cross the bridge when we come to it."

Asked what was his next course of action, he replied, "We will be digging our graves if we tell you."

Liow, who was also present at the press conference, said that he deeply regretted the delay in the investigation of the fracas.

The party secretary-general Dr Ting Chew Peh when met outside the Parliament lobby yesterday said the report was still under review.

"It is in Ling's hand now," he told malaysiakini.