The heated dispute in MCA over phantom members and a verification of its membership list are expected to fizzle out, at least for now, following Team B's agreement not to pursue the matters under Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's 'agenda for peace and stability'.

"The verification exercise of registered membership as proposed by Team B will not be pursued at this time," read the peace agenda, a copy of which was obtained by malaysiakini today.

The two-page document was signed by Team B helmsman and party deputy president Lim Ah Lek at 12.45am last Friday in the presence of Chinese entrepreneur Lim Kok Wing, one of the four members of a reconciliation committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The committee, whose other members include business tycoon Lee Kim Yew and two of Mahathir's close aides, was convened to resolve the MCA crisis amicably.

However, the document did not bear the signature of any Team A leaders, led by party president Dr Ling Liong Sik.

The document revealed that being "loyal and responsible members" of the ruling coalition, the feuding factions have agreed to compromise on various matters.

Leadership and direction

This, according to the peace agenda, was to "enable the Barisan Nasional chairperson (Mahathir) to provide the leadership and direction that will be accepted by all".

For their part, Team B promised to call off the extraordinary general meeting which they had fixed for April 21.

The EGM was supposed to expose evidence of phantom members and sought the setting up of a verification committee headed by former deputy president Lee Kim Sai.

In return, Team A would have to agree to a status quo in the party leadership by calling off the divisional elections scheduled for April 27 and 28 though the divisional meetings were to proceed as usual.

"In the event of exigencies that require replacements, the relevant choices will be made only after consultation with the BN chairperson during the period of this moratorium (of all divisive activities)," the document said.

However, in a meeting with Mahathir yesterday, Ling gave his verbal consent to the peace agenda after securing a change to this clause so that the party elections from divisional level onwards could still be held, but with no contest for party posts.

The document also said the MCA annual general meeting scheduled for June 29 is to "close ranks and strengthen the party unity and solidarity".

It was also agreed that all leaders should not discuss or debate the party issues through the media to avoid any possible undermining of the "spirit of collaboration" between the feuding factions.

Below is a verbatim reproduction of the original document.

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT

To safeguard and strengthen the unity of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) as well as preserve the dignity, good image and well-being of the Barisan Nasional, we the undersigned, representing 'Team A' and 'Team B', in the spirit of promoting unity, jointly consent to a moratorium of all divisive activities to enable Barisan Nasional chairman YAB Dato Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad to provide the leadership and direction that will be accepted by all.

As loyal and responsible members of the Barisan Nasional, we are fully aware that our actions and our co-operation in this will bear great significance to endorse the Barisan Nasional philosophy of working in unity for the greater benefit of the Malaysian society.

We are fully convinced that our mutual consent will help strengthen the party and close ranks to enable the MCA to continue playing an important role within the Barisan Nasional.

The moratorium that we have agreed upon will be applicable with immediate effect to the following matters:

'EGM' AS REQUISITIONED BY 'TEAM B'

The 'Extraordinary General Meeting' as proposed by 'Team B' and scheduled to take place on April 21, 2002 will be called off.

VERIFICATION OF MEMBERSHIP REGISTER

The verification exercise of registered membership as proposed by 'Team B' will not be pursued at this time.

STATUS QUO

The posts of president, deputy president, vice-presidents and all other national and state party posts, both elected and appointed, will remain without change.

This will also be applicable to the Wanita MCA and Pemuda MCA sections. In the event of exigencies that require replacements, the relevant choices will be made only after consultation with the Barisan Nasional chairman during the period of this moratorium.

DIVISIONAL ELECTIONS

In keeping with the agreement to maintain status quo of all party posts the divisional elections scheduled to be held on April 27-28, 2002 will be called off indefinitely.

However, divisional meetings will be held as usual.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Following the agreement to maintain status quo of all party posts no elections will be held during the Annual General Meeting that has been scheduled for June 29, 2002. The intention is to use the occasion to close ranks and strengthen party unity and solidarity.

USE OF MEDIA

All national leaders, including division and branch leaders, will make every effort to ensure that party issues are not discussed, presented or debated through the media. There shall be no attempts made to orchestrate or manipulate issues through the media that will undermine the spirit of collaboration that both parties are presently engaged in.

With this it is our sincere wish that all parties concerned will abide by this cordial agreement that we have arrived at to enable peaceful solutions to take effect.