updated version

Just after MCA leaders convening at the Wanita MCA 27th annual general meeting today reiterated the importance of discipline in the party and commended the women's wing for setting an exemplary standard for all, a member had slapped her state chief.

Earlier, when launching the meeting in Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), Kuala Lumpur, secretary-general Dr Ting Chew Peh expressed his deep concern over the discipline problem in the party.

"I feel sad to note that some of our members have chosen to behave in total disregard of party discipline," he said, adding however that he took much comfort from "the unity and discipline demonstrated by members of the Wanita MCA".

"The way the Wanita members conduct themselves in politics has set a very good example for the MCA male members to follow."

Ting spoke too soon however, for at the end of the meeting today, former Tenom division Wanita chairperson Lo Nyit Yin went up to Sabah MCA Wanita chief Agnes Shim Tshin Nyuk and slapped her on the face.

It is learnt that the slap followed a prolonged dispute between the two in recent weeks over the delegation list.

Lo had this morning reached PWTC to attend the meeting but was denied entry as her name was not on the list. After confronting the security guards, Lo was eventually let in as an observer.

When asked whether she will lodge a police report over the incident, Shim said she will leave it to the party to decide.

A Wanita disciplinary committee headed by president Dr Ng Yen Yen and deputy president Dr Tan Yee Kew will look into today's incident.

Criticising leaders

Meanwhile, Ting said it was unfortunate that friction among party's leadership has come to the surface and brought a bad reputation to the leaders.

"Can you think of any political party in the country whose members can freely criticise and reprimand their president? Can you name a political party in the country in which some of its leaders can deliberately fault their party president? Have you seen any other political party whose members take pleasure in setting fire to their party constitution?" he asked.

"I cannot help but feel disappointed because besides [the creation of] Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, the MCA does not have many major achievements to shout about and much less of those our members can take pride in," he added.

Wanita head Ng also said in her opening speech that the last year has been a challenging one to them since one of the causes was the intra-party disunity.

However deputy chairperson Tan said when winding up the session that the party should evaluate on the perfection of the party's organisational structure.

She said there is "noting wrong" in criticising the leader in public if he or she had done something wrong.

"Publicly criticising leaders is a normal procedure ... since members are the ones who choose them." Her assertion was met with applause and cheering from the floor.

Phantom members

When approached by malaysiakini later, Tan conceded that phantom membership is the main problem faced by the party now.

She was asked to comment on a question raised by a delegate earlier during debate.

Klang delegate Choo Yuet Meng had raised the problem of phantom members and urged the party to re-examine the party's membership list.

"Phantom members will not strengthen MCA," she said.

She urged the party to have a transparent and democratic election after the country's general election.

When asked about the party's discipline problem, Tan said the most serious one was last year's Youth AGM fracas over the party's controversial takeover of Nanyang Press Holdings.

"Till now, we haven't see any report from the police," she lamented.