A purported study of the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) by the MCA is alleged to require substantial financial support from a selected few Chinese guilds, who in turn are discreetly crying foul.

Several guild leaders from the MCA-led umbrella group Malaysian Chinese Economic Consultative Council (MCECC), had claimed that their organisations were 'forced' to donate RM50,000 each to finance the study soon after the 9MP was announced on March 31.

The MCECC, which comprises, among others, of Associatiated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Malaysia (ACCCIM), Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (FECAM) and seven major clan Associations, are believed to have agreed to the scheme on principle, amidst murmurs of discontent among members.

Until now, the real purpose of MCA allegedly soliciting funds from the three organisations remains a mystery. Some suggest it might be used for 'administrative purposes' while others suggest it would be fully channeled to the 9MP study.

"Even if they want RM50,000 as administrative cost, then MCA should finance it by itself," said a guild leader who requested anonymity.

Another disgruntled guild leader claimed that MCA earns around RM100 million annually from its publication of English daily the Star, while another RM30 million were collected from the community to establish University Tunku Abdul Rahman.

"Too much money has already been taken from the community," said the veteran Chinese community leader who declined to be named.

Secret memorandum

In another development, MCA president Ong Ka Ting will be leading a MCECC delegation to submit a memorandum on the nation's economy, during meeting with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi tomorrow.

Little is known about the meeting as both Ong and council members have remained tightlipped over the meeting with Abdullah.

In view of this, several guild leaders have told malaysiakini that MCA refused to include six suggestions in the memorandum made by the MCECC pertaining to disproportionate allocation meant for Chinese primary schools under 9MP, unequal share distribution, privatisation, restructuring of the employment field, bumiputera and Islamisation policies.

This has drawn flak from certain members within the council sparking calls for their respective organisations to leave the council.

Mooted by Ong, the council was established in 2005 to seek ways of forging economic cooperation among bumiputeras and non-bumiputeras.

Too late

Meanwhile, two MCA members have told malaysiakini that Ong's trip to Putrajaya tomorrow would be futile because the 9MP had already been cast in stone.

"(The 9MP) is like a train loaded with goods and already on its way to its destination ... the plan was decided and agreed by the cabinet. Therefore it is impossible to ask the Umno ministers to accept MCA views," opined former MCA youth deputy chief Chan Tse Yuen when contacted.

"(Handing over the memorandum) is nothing more than a publicity stunt. They want us to feel better after watching all the play acting. Why didn't they voice up at the time the government was drafting the plan? What were they so busy with?" he asked.

When told about the memorandum handing tomorrow, former MCA secretary-general and veteran party leader Ting Chew Peh too had his reservations.

"Other than publicity, politics also involved achieving concrete results," said Ting when contacted.