MCAs feuding factions are expected to reply by noon tomorrow to the reconciliation committee headed by Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on whether or not they agree to a peace agenda outlined by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Party sources told malaysiakini today that the agenda, if implemented, would lead to the postponement of the partys April 28 divisional elections and the cancellation of this Sundays extraordinary general meeting.

It was learnt that the controversial master-list of the new members recruited late last year — 135,000 according to Team A and 138,000 according to Team B — would be presented to the reconciliation committee for verification.

It is believed that the verification will be conducted by an independent auditing firm with the committee overseeing the process.

According to the sources, the deputy premier conveyed this to the leaders of both factions during two separate meetings in Putrajaya earlier today.

A media conference is expected to be called once a consensus is obtained from the two factions tomorrow where the postponement of the divisional elections and the cancellation of the EGM are likely to be announced.

The reconciliation committee comprises four other members — Chinese businessmen Lee Kim Yew and Lim Kok Wing who are close associates of Mahathir, as well as two of the premiers aides.

MCA, the second biggest party in the ruling Barisan Nasional, is plagued with an internal crisis that has split the party into two camps, popularly known as Team A and Team B.

Team A is led by party president Dr Ling Liong Sik while Team B is led by his deputy-cum-nemesis Lim Ah Lek.

Their animosity became public last year following MCAs controversial acquisition of two Chinese dailies.

The crisis aggravated as the party elections drew nearer forcing Mahathir to intervene and call for a peaceful resolution.

Blanket ban

Yesterday, malaysiakini reported that a blanket ban had been imposed by the Prime Ministers Department on media coverage concerning the MCA conflict to ensure that the reconciliation proceeds smoothly.

Team B had repeatedly alleged that phantom members existed within the party and complained that there was no transparency in the recruitment of the new members. They had also said they were not given details of the new membership list.

However, Team A insisted that the membership list had been cleaned up by the National Registration Department and that the party elections will take place as scheduled as demanded by a majority of its members.

The upcoming divisional elections would see a new batch of 2,667 delegates being elected.

These delegates will eventually attend the annual general assembly on June 29, where party central leaders including the president, the deputy as well as four vice-presidents will be voted in for a three-year term.