Lukut state assembly representative Dr Yeow Chai Thiam, who was reported to have switched camps in the on-going MCA factional feud, expressed his dissatisfaction with the party membership list today.

"I am angry because 130,000 members were approved within a couple of months. That is simply impossible to believe," he told malaysiakini in a telephone interview.

However, Yeow refuted a New Straits Times report today which had named him as one of several key Team A leaders from Negri Sembilan who would be switching allegiance to Team B, which is led by deputy president Lim Ah Lek.

The report indicated that the reason for the switch in camps stemmed from his discovery of 'several discrepancies in the MCA membership list'.

"I am not part of any team. But I really hope that Team A and Team B would just sit down and show the public that MCA is united," Yeow said.

"Leaders should have the wisdom not to split the party and I tell you that everyone involved is responsible for the split."

Take positive steps

He went on to urge MCA chairman Dr Ling Liong Sik, leader of Team A, to take positive steps to end the split.

"Ling, as the 'big brother', should use his wisdom to unite the party again," said Yeow.

"I hope the party will get back together. Honestly, it [the faction split] has been a matter of Chinese pride. But ultimately, we should be most concerned with the public's respect for the party, and the way the Chinese, Malays and Indians perceive the party.

"Otherwise, being a member of [MCA] is not something to be proud of," he lamented.

The MCA squabble began last May when core leaders disagreed over the party's acquisition of two major Chinese-language dailies, leading to a split within the party into Team A and Team B factions.

The membership list, which included over 100,000 new members recruited last year, has been criticised by Team B leaders who alleged the existence of phantom members.

The new members, which represent a sizable proportion in the party, will have bearing on the outcome of MCA's leadership elections in June.

Following acrimonious debates on the issue, Ling said yesterday that the party would review the original membership list and distribute a new list to all branches, divisions and states before the hotly contested party elections.

Correction: Dr Yeow Chai Thiam was previously referred to in this news report as a 'she'. We regret the error.