Keadilan is not the only political party in disarray when it strays from its original objective of promoting social justice and multi-culturalism (ASW's 'Keadilan must prove it is a party with a purpose', Oct 30).

Following close at its heels is the other party, the MCA, mired in internecine power struggles occasioned in the first instance by the controversial takeover of Nanyang Press Holdings, the publisher of two Chinese dailies, which divides it into teams A and B.

All we hear over news thereafter is this continuous fight by proxies over that issue.

Whilst MIC's meetings nowadays are more orderly, the Aug 3 annual general meeting of MCA Youth wing had taken a cue from MIC's heyday to grace the occasion with fistfights, flying chairs and a bomb scare hoax that culminated in the removal of former secretary-general Yew Teong Look and former vice-chairperson Loh Seng Kok perceived to be aligned to party president Dr Ling Liong Sik.

Then Ling announced the setting up of a special committee to investigate the ruckus and the retention of Yew and Loh in their former posts pending outcome of the inquiry.

However, Youth Chief Ong Tee Keat called on the party president to apologise, stipulating the withdrawal of his remarks as a condition to call a central committee meeting.

Then we further hear 10 state Youth chairpersons in turn demanding that Ong retracts his statements and apologises to MCA's 9000,000 members for damaging MCA's image.

The situation borders on the ludicrous when Perak MCA chairperson Ong Ka Chuan alluded to promises of party positions being made to buy support which in turn led to the challenge by Perak MCA chiefs allegedly allied to team B to swear it in the Chee Tak Kok Temple!

The squabbles have even acquired a technological dimension when various VCDs on the fracas are circulated amongst the grassroots.

The Malaysian Chinese Association is supposed to protect the political interest of Chinese Malaysians within the larger framework of national unity and harmony in multi-racial Malaysia.

As retrenchments and unemployment rise due to economic slowdown, aggravated by the terrorist attacks on the US and the subsequent war in Afghanistan, the spectre of social unrest looms, and more than ever there is a need for inter-religious and inter-racial tolerance and co-existence essential for nation-building for plural Malaysia.

How can MCA contribute anything towards these objectives when it cannot even keep its own house in order and maintain unity within itself?

Chinese Malaysians and the public in general are aghast and tired at these childish antics of proxy fighting, demands and counter demands for apologies, supplemented by fistfights, flying chairs, bomb scare and swearing in the temple - where the only 'achievement' of late (besides Utar) is the intent and hope of Wanita MCA's matchmaking Cupid Club to unify single Chinese Malaysian men and women!

As for UTAR, we had in picture the president's announcement being greeted with standing ovation by some whilst other prominent members of team B remained seated, hands still.

If the image of MCA is tarnished, it is a result of all these negative and ludicrous activities, the responsibility of which must surely be borne by all the principal players and actors within this ' sandiwara ' of power struggle - and not just Ong Tee Keat as alleged by the 10 Perak MCA Youth chieftains.