MCA central committee member Ti Lian Ker today defended the committee's decision to act on Dr Chua Soi Lek's case.

NONE "It is unfortunate that the central committee has, however, been disregarded and disdained by being called a rubber stamp, after the central committee had taken the decision to reverse the presidential council's endorsement of the disciplinary board's recommendation," he said in a statement today.

He was referring to last Saturday's decision by the central committee (CC) to substitute the expulsion of deputy president Chua from the party with a four-year suspension.

Chua accuses CC of abusing its power

Ti, who is also the party's non-governmental organisations liaison chairman, said Article 47 of the party constitution clearly spelt out that the presidential council was answerable to the CC.

"Thus, the central committee, by virtue of its inherent power, has the right of revision to revise, review or annul any decision of the presidential council," he stressed.

He said the CC could not be denied of its right and was duty bound to deliberate on decisions by the disciplinary board or presidential council "with or without the appeal" of a party official or CC member.

Chua and his supporters had accused the CC of abusing its power, saying that it had undermined the forthcoming extraordinary general meeting that was to debate a motion of no-confidence in party president Ong Tee Keat and one on the reinstatement of Chua as deputy president.

- Bernama