The row over MCAs newly revamped membership list continued today with deputy party president Lim Ah Lek saying the list must be cleaned up before party elections, due in June, can be held.

However, Lim who leads an opposing faction of MCA leaders and members, popularly known as Team B, declined to say if he would call for a postponement of the party elections.

The MCA leader said opportunities must be given to everyone to ensure a list free of phantom voters.

This, he stressed, would provide for an elections with integrity, transparency and dignity, adding that under its constitution, the party has till the end of the year to complete the elections.

"If the list is not clean, let us clean it first. No point going to the elections without first cleaning the list," he was quoted by Bernama .

"I am saying that the list must be cleaned up first before we have the elections. Complete the house before moving in ... if the house is not ready, how to move in?" he asked.

According to Lim, there were numerous problems pertaining to the list of new members which was released by the partys headquarters recently.

The sudden approval of more than 130,000 new members in the last six months of last year was unprecedented, he said, calling for sufficient and reasonable time to check the list.

Lim also claimed there were problems hampering his supporters from checking the membership list which is supposed to be displayed at all MCA offices, branches and divisions nationwide from Feb 10 to March 2.

Complaints received

The Team B head said all leaders, regardless of which faction they are supporting, should cooperate to clean up the list.

He added it was up to the party president Dr Ling Liong Sik to decide whether the deadline for inspecting the list should be extended.

Lim also said complaints from all states were being compiled and a report will be submitted to the partys Election Steering Committee.

According to Bernama , the MCA leader declined to specify the nature of the complaints but confirmed there were people whose identity cards were used to apply for membership without their knowledge and people sharing the same address.

"Whether win or lose, we should win with dignity and lose also with dignity on a level playing field," said Lim.

Meanwhile, The Sun today reported that the partys Bukit Bintang division had identified 1,000 new members as possible phantom members.

Division chief Lee Chong Meng said he would submit a report on the matter to the MCA Elections Steering Committee by the end of this month.

Team B leaders have also been told not to play detective following allegations that they were conducting membership checks via telephone and house calls.

The partys secretary-general and chairman of the steering committee Dr Ting Chew Peh has said MCA has not ordered a membership check and urged members to lodge a police report if approached by individuals claiming to do so.

He also warned the party may lodge a police report if the need arises.

MCA has been embroiled in controversy since its acquisition of two Chinese dailies last year.

The controversial business transaction saw the party split into two camps - Team A led by the party president Dr Ling Liong Sik and Team B (which opposed the deal) led by Lim.

A showdown is anticipated at the partys upcoming elections as it is widely speculated that Lim will challenge Ling for the presidents post.