A new round of changing of the guards in MCA-owned companies is on the cards, following that of the party leadership.

Key players appointed by former president Ong Tee Keat will be removed to give way for his successor Dr Chua Soi Lek's boys.

However, it was learned that the switch around will only involve political appointees.

azalan On top of the name list are Star Publications' executive deputy chairman Clement Hii and executive director Ng Beng Lye.

MCA owns 40 percent of Star Publications shares through its investment arm Huaren Holdings. Star Publications publishes the nation's number one English daily The Star , the cash cow of the party.

Both Clement and Ng were appointed into the board in January last year. Their appointments were seen as a move by Ong to tighten his grip on the daily in the light of party elections.

Their exit is likely to begin at the Star Publications annual general meeting on May 24.

According to the agenda of the meeting, the shareholders will vote on the re-appointment of Ng's directorship, which is listed as the third resolution.

Although Hii's name does not appear in the agenda, it was believed arrangements will be made to discharge him.

However, another executive director cum group chief editor Wong Chun Wai will retain his post.

He has served the daily for 26 years and is not seen as a staunch supporter of Ong.

NONE Another reason was Chua's ( right) undertaking in his 'Humble Ant' presidential manifesto to give managerial independence and editorial autonomy to the daily.

Chua had faced pressure from NGOs immediately after he won the presidency.

Two civil society organisations openly urged him to honour his manifesto over The Star's editorial autonomy and he gave the assurance that the daily will not become a political tool.

Hence, he would be subjected to criticism if the reshuffle in the Star Publications appears to be politically motivated.

Selangor Pewter boss to helm Star

Rumour is rife that managing director of Royal Selangor International (formerly Selangor Pewter) Yong Poh Kon is Chua's preferred candidate to helm the Star Publications.

fta 310107 yong poh kon Yong ( right ) is no stranger to many MCA veterans. He once led the party's think tank - the Institute of Strategic and Policy Analysis (Insap)- during former president Tan Koon Swan's era.

However, he was not active in MCA politics after that, focusing his efforts instead on the corporate world.

Aside from his family business Royal Selangor International, he sat in many government and private consultative bodies, including Bank Negara, Action Committee on the Industrial Master Plan, National Economic Consultative Council (NECC) and Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) advisory board.

Interestingly, he is also the economy advisor to Selangor Pakatan government.

Chua could use Yong's appointment to show that he walks the talk.

In another related development, a Chinese daily had speculated that Chua's frontman during party polls Tan Chai Ho, who he had appointed as MCA treasurer, will head Huaren Holdings.

NONE Other MCA leaders tipped to be in the new line-up of Huaren Holdings include party disciplinary board chairperson Fong Chan Onn and newly-elected vice-president Donald Lim (l eft ).

The winds of change is also set to sweep through another MCA-owned media - Mandarin radio station 988.

The station's CEO Wong Lai Ngo, Mandarin-speaking Malay deejay Jamaluddin Ibrahim and part-time deejay Joe Liao, who was Ong's private secretary, are likely to be on the exit list.

All three of them were recruited during Ong's tenure and are said to be his supporters.