MCA Youth has "firmly rejected" continuity of the New Economic Policy (NEP), as well as labelled remarks at the Umno Youth assembly yesterday as "more poisonous" than those of the opposition.

"(The NEP) is a policy that should have ended in 1990," said its chief Liow Tiong Lai at a press conference at the Parliament building today.

"Whatever policy is drawn up should take into account the interests of all races. I hope the government can honour its promise to implement the National Vision Policy."

Liow, the youth and sports deputy minister, also lashed out at Umno Youth for "forcing its way" in pressuring the government to continue the implementation of the NEP.

"The government must implement what has been discussed by the National Economic Consultative Council (NECC) I and II to enhance the economic development of all races. A government can't fail to keep its promise," he said.

He had earlier chaired a two-hour meeting of the wing's political bureau, which seven other leaders attended.

Liow expressed gratitude to premier and Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for having reminded delegates not to make statements that would offend other communities during the party general assembly.

"However, it is regretful that the Umno Youth assembly was shrouded in an atmosphere of fiery and emotional sentiments, (bringing out) remarks that were more poisonous and unreasonable than those of the opposition," he said.

He was referring to criticism of Barisan Nasional leaders including MIC chief S Samy Vellu, Gerakan chief Dr Lim Keng Yaik and MCA vice-president Ong Tee Keat.

MCA president Ong Ka Ting, who chaired a three-hour presidential council meeting at the Parliament building this afternoon, did not speak to the media.

Tee Keat - whom Umno Youth delegates singled out for his disclosure on misuse of funds in the vernacular schools - told a separate press conference at the same venue that he would leave it to the people to judge the validity of the criticism.

'National agenda first'

Liow further reminded Umno Youth not to strive for the Malay agenda at the expense of others.

"(They) can fight for the Malay agenda, as MCA and MIC do for their respective agendas. Just remember that the national agenda should come first," Liow said.

Asked to comment on the government's stand that the NEP target of 30 percent bumiputera equity ownership has yet to be reached, Liow stressed that development policy should be implemented in accordance to the decisions of the NECC I and II.

He pointed out MCA Youth has never disputed the target, but hoped that equity ownership could be increased for everyone else at the same time.

"The economy cake should be expanded, only then we can talk about distribution. There is no point for us to talk about distribution when the economy cake is so small," he said.

On a statement that Malays have been marginalised by Chinese Malaysian businessmen, Liow said: "Chinese Malaysian businessmen have never relied on tongkat (crutches). What they enjoy today is a result of their hard work. The (delegate's) statement is most extreme."

The NEP was enacted in the 1970 as part of a bold blueprint to reduce income disparity among different ethnic groups.

It was given a shelf life of 20 years but the policy continued after 1990 under a different name, the New Development Policy, to be implemented up to 2000.

The National Vision Policy was set to be implemented between 2001 and 2010. However, the government in the Ninth Malaysia Plan unveiled earlier this year, revived the NEP.

Debate over the NEP target became heated after two studies showed that the target had been reached.

The government, maintaining that the figure was 18.9 percent as at end 2004, said the NEP policy will continue until 2020.