updated version MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik today announced that the entire 46-member Youth central committee has been suspended.

"In the interest of stability, peace and bringing back order to the MCA Youth movement, we have decided to suspend the Youth central committee," said Ling at a press conference after a three-hour meeting at the MCA headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

He added that as a result of the suspension, Youth chief Ong Tee Keat is now a "non-functioning" leader. "He cannot speak on behalf of the Youth movement anymore," said Ling.

According to Ling, the Youth wing will now be taken over by a three-member panel headed by party veteran Wang Choon Wing. The other two appointed members are former Youth leader Hon Choon Kim and Malacca state executive councillor Poh Ah Tiam.

The panel will form the section's interim leadership replacing the 46 youth central committee members until a new committee is formed after the next party general elections scheduled to be held by next August.

Ling stressed that while all Youth leaders will retain their titles, their powers and functions are frozen with immediate effect.

Eight members of Team B, which is led by Ling's rival, deputy party leader Lim Ah Lek, voted against the suspension at today's meeting, while 31 of the 40-member committee voted in favour of the decision. One member was absent.

The party president, who is leader of Team A, also added that Team B cannot go ahead with its plan to hold an emergency general meeting for the Youth wing.

"The EGM cannot be called for anymore as the sections of the MCA Youth by-laws have been suspended," said Ling.

All functions taken over

Ling said that in pursuant to Article 45.2 of the MCA constitution, the party has appointed the special committee to take over all functions of the Youth central committee including the execution of all orders, rules and responsibilities for the purpose of the restoration of dignity and order in the national MCA Youth.

According to Ling, the party central committee has decided to bring about a suspension because of the Youth leadership's inability to make any progress to resolve the crisis within the section during the meeting held early this month at Serdang, Srlangor.

However, Ling stressed that the action was not targeted at his rivals in Team B, which include Youth leader Ong.

"This is not aimed at anyone in particular but to bring back order into MCA," he said.

When asked, Ling said the party central committee did not discuss any disciplinary action against the three leaders named in the report by the special veterans committee appointed to investigate the fracas that took place during the Aug 3 Youth annual general meeting.

The AGM was punctuated by a bomb hoax, fist-fights, chair-throwing, and the sacking of two leaders - Youth secretary-general Yew Tiong Look and vice-chairperson Loh Seng Kok, seen to be in Team A.

In a report submitted on Dec 7, the veterans committee reinstated the sacked members and recommended that disciplinary actions be taken against those found to have been responsible for instigating the disarray.

As to the measure which would be meted out against the youth leaders named in the veterans' report, Ling said "we will stand by the recommendations of the three-men committee."

Deep disappointment

In a separate press conference, Youth chief Ong expressed deep disappointment with the decisions made by the party.

"This is an unprecedented takeover by the three-men committee. It is not just a suspension (of the leaders) but also all activities to be carried out by the bureau," said Ong.

"However, we assure you that this is not going to break the spirit of MCA Youth, in particular the leaders," said Ong.

"We are undeterred by the decision and we are certainly campaigning actively and pro-actively for Barisan National in the forthcoming by-election," said Ong, referring to the upcoming state by-election of Indera Kayangan after the death of incumbent Khor Liang Tee, who was Perlis MCA chief.

Ong insisted that Youth leaders were still duty bound to solicit more support for the Chinese community especially Chinese youth to rally around the BN leadership.