June 24, 2001, will forever be remembered as the darkest day in the Chinese Malaysian history. It shall be forever be remembered that 1,176 delegates (some appointed and some elected) to the MCA EGM betrayed the Chinese community. They voted for the takeover of Nanyang Press by MCA, against the wish of the community. And these are the leaders who claimed representing the community's interest.

I feel very sad. Hurt is the word. Although I am not Chinese educated and may not understand a single word in these Chinese press, I feel the pain the community is suffering. I feel betrayed by a group of people who voted for self interest and fortune. I wonder whom they are representing. President Dr Ling Liong Sik or the community? I wonder if making big bucks is more important than keeping the community's heart.

Fifty three percent of the 2,216 delegates at the MCA extraordinary general assembly today voted in favour of the party's takeover of Nanyang Press. This gave the party president a slim majority over his opponents.

I am baffled as to why the 1,176 delegates who voted for the deal cannot see the logic that MCA should not buy Nanyang. I wonder if they have a heart. How are they going to face the community they represent? Where is their conscience?

But I am sure of one thing. This is a big mistake. These 1,176 delegates will live to regret the decision they have made on this day. And I am sure the battle is far from over. Forty-seven percent of the delegation objected the deal. A number too large to be ignored. And out of the 1,176 delegates I am sure a big number were pressured, manipulated and threatened to vote in favour of the deal.

From today to next year's MCA election, there will be fireworks. The battle line has been drawn. Ling and 1,175 delegates have thrown in the challenge. They are telling the grassroots that their support is not needed. The future and fortune of these 1,175 delegates are guaranteed by Ling Liong Sik. They are telling the community to go fly a kite. The MCA can go against the wishes of the community and will still be in power.

The grassroots of MCA and the Chinese community must answer this challenge by voting these traitors out of power. Let's wake them up. Let's tell them who is the boss. If they continue to be in power, I am sure MCA will meet its Waterloo in the 2004 general elections. If not, Ling will drag MCA into another financial crisis.