MCA President Ong Tee Keat had earlier claimed that supporters of his sacked deputy Chua Soi Lek were preparing to form a new political party called 'Parti Cinta Malaysia', after failing to initiate an extraordinary annual meeting (EGM) to reinstate Chua.

Ibrahim Yaakub of the Penang Registrar of Societies (ROS) today confirmed with Malaysiakini that the party was registered three months ago.

A search with the ROS office in Seberang Perai revealed that Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM), a multi-racial nationwide party, was registered in Penang on Aug 6 this year.

NONE Its certificate of registration (left) shows that the party's registered address is in Chai Leng Park, Perai. The full list of committee is also available.

The party's first president is Tang Weng Chew, a 38-year-old director of a food supplier company with Loo Kien Seang and Lim Kim Chu as its secretary and treasurer, respectively.

However, Ibrahim said he doesn't know much about the party as political party registration is normally handled and approved by the ROS headquarters in Putrajaya.

He also believed that the PCM's application was handed directly over to the Putrajaya headquarters without going through the Penang office.

"I would have known if they have submitted the application form to the Penang office," he explained.

According to media reports today, Ong told MCA central delegates in a closed-door briefing last night that Chua planned to register a political party if he fails to make a comeback.

Inspired by Thai party

Ong also claimed that the party name was inspired by a Thai party.

It is believed the party Ong was refering to is the former Thai ruling party, Thai Rak Thai. The party, which gained popularity in a short time, was established by ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The party was banned and dissolved after Thaksin lost power.

NONE However, Chua (right) had brushed off the allegations. His supporters said the allegation was deliberately fabricated by Ong's faction to confuse central delegates.

In another related development, suspended Gerakan vice-president Huan Cheng Guan denied that he is the man behind the establishment of PCM.

He, however, conceded that he knows some of the party leaders.

Asked whether he will join the new party, Huan said with a chuckle that he would answer that at another time.

To further distant himself from the party, Huan said he was suspended on June 20 but the party was registered on June 8, hence he couldn't have set up the party before his fate in Gerakan became known.

According to the news website Malaysian Mirror , Chua's faction had drafted a new plan after many central delegates withdrew their support.

The website claims that the new plan is to set up PCM should the earlier plans fail. The objective of the earlier plans was to save Chua and topple Ong and to hold the EGM.

This plan could be implemented in two ways.

First is to set up a new party but Chua's supporters worried they might not be accepted into BN.

Second is to join Sarawak's Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) thus having a new party leadership in Peninsular Malaysia.