MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik today said certain quarters have tarnished the image of the party and in view of this the disciplinary committee will be made more active after the party polls in June.

I have been tolerant with these criticisms and allegations, I think I can afford to be tolerant a bit longer, he told reporters in Putrajaya.

Ling said this when asked if recent allegations by several party leaders that phantom members still existed within the party had hurt MCAs reputation.

Asked why no action had been taken against those involved, he said, I have some ideas about how to make a much more active disciplinary committee after the party elections.

The disciplinary committee is currently headed by Lings deputy and political nemesis Lim Ah Lek.

Independent probe unlikely

The party president added it was unlikely for the party to set up an independent committee to investigate any alleged discrepancies in the membership list released yesterday.

Over 90 percent of the members have decided not to make any complaints... said Ling who is also transport minister.

Last month, Ling who has been in power for 15 years, assured party members that an independent committee will be established to look into the list if they remained unsatisfied with the list.

Yesterday, MCA secretary-general Dr Ting Chew Peh said over 99 percent of the 1.025 million party members were found to be valid when submission of complaints of the partys membership list ended on Monday.

The disputed list had earlier been displayed for 21 days for examinations at branch level.

Ting., who also helms a 11-member elections steering committee, was quoted as saying that more than 95 percent of the partys branches did not file any complaint.

Tainted list

Team B leaders, however, have repeatedly alleged that the membership list was tainted with ineligible members in the run-up to the party elections scheduled to commence at end of this month.

The opposing faction had cast doubts on the 135,000 new members recruited within the past year.

However, Ling today reiterated that there was no such thing as a 100 percent clean list.

But we have taken steps to remedy the problems... The steering committee had diligently done its job, stressed the president.

Asked if the allegations may lead to a change of schedule of the party elections, Ling replied, Over 90 percent of the branches need not have their lists renewed, how can you tell this people otherwise?

MCA leaders have been divided into two camps  better known as Team A and Team B  since the party acquired two Chinese dailies last May. Team A, which favoured the deal, is led by Ling while Team B is led by the deputy president.

The party elections, held every three years, will start at branch level this month, division level in April, and state level in May. The central leadership will be chosen on June 29 at the national annual general assembly.