The outgoing MCA leadership’s move to hastily set up a board of trustees to control the party’s assets said to be worth around RM1.5 billion was today slammed by a group of members.

Calling themselves the Save the Party Committee, the irate members have objected to the proposed MCA’s Central Board of Trustees (CBOT), which is to be established two days before the crucial party polls on Oct 18.

mca save party commitee pc 081008 06 At a press conference, spokesmen for the committee - Selangor’s Puchong division vice-chairman Theng Bok and PJ Utara division adviser Wong Leong - urged outgoing party president Ong Ka Ting to abandon the plan.

“I don’t think the existing MCA central committee can decide on this (proposal) ... before the election of the new leadership,” Bok told a press conference today.

“This is not the time to do this (approving the CBOT plan). Ka Ting and his central committee should be considered like a caretaker government during a general election,” added Bok.

“I urge all (current) central committee members not to vote (in favour) of this proposal as this can be interpreted as showing disrespect to the new (central committee) members.”

According to Bok, the CBOT proposal is believed to have been submitted by the party treasurer-general Lau Yin Pin.

The board will be custodian to MCA’s vast financial assets reportedly with an estimated market value of between RM1.5 to RM1.6 billion.

There are widespread rumours spread through short-text messages (SMS) alleging that a certain outgoing top leader of being interested in the CBOT chairman’s job, giving him control over the party’s enormous assets.

It is also learnt that CBOT’s role include the formulation of MCA’s investment policy.

Ong: Show proof of RM21 mil properties

Meanwhile, Bok also touched on the allegations that presidential candidate Ong Tee Keat owns RM21 million worth of properties even though he had purportedly earned RM2.7 million in salary from the various posts he held over the years.

mca save party commitee pc 081008 05 “All these properties (with listed addresses comprising shoplots and double-storey linked units) as alleged are located within Selangor and since it is under opposition rule, we urge this candidate (Ong) to lodge a police report for the matter to be investigated.

“Having RM21 million worth of properties is not a crime - the candidate could have borrowed from the bank,” Bok told reporters. “But it is best he should clear his name by lodging a police report.”

Ong has since responded by asking his accusers to show evidence of their allegations. He said that it was unfair to ask the accused to proof their innocence.

Ong, who is frontrunner for the president post, added that he had periodically made assets declaration to the government.