DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang today described the two Penang MCA state assembly representatives who abstained from voting against the deferment of the Penang Outer Ring Road Project (Porr) project recently as the victims of four political factors.

The two, Tan Cheng Liang (BN-Jawi) and Lim Boo Chang (BN-Datuk Keramat), had since came under fire from senior BN leaders including Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his deputy, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The four factors, according to Lim, are internal Umno politics, the rivalry between Gerakan and MCA over the leadership for Penang BN, cowardice and subservience of MCA leadership vis-a-vis Umno and the blatant refusal to put people's interests above BN interests.

He explained that on Umno's part in the controversy, Abdullah who will be taking over as the premier next October has to send a clear message of the need for party discipline and blind loyalty to his party members.

After all, Abdullah's hold and command in Umno is still regarded by many in the party as "tenuous and untested", Lim added in a statement.

Not even two-thirds

The DAP leader further questioned the propriety of the controversial road project.

"Why should the BN impose a party whip to compel all its Penang state assembly members to support Porr, regardless of the views and interests of the people?" he asked.

"Penang Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon could not get even two-thirds of the Penang BN state assembly members to vote against the motion, as apart from the two abstentions from Tan and Lee, nine others were absent from the vote for one reason or another," he added.

Lim suggested that the MCA requests for a convening of a special state assembly meeting where the party whip is removed to allow a free vote on the Porr project with putting the people's interests above party or personal interests.

Tan and Boo Chang had abstained from voting against the motion tabled by opposition DAP assembly representative Law Heng Kiang (Batu Lanchang) to defer the RM1.02 billion road project.

MCA meets Tuesday

In a related development, the Chinese daily Nanyang Siang Pau reported today that the MCA will convene the party's presidential council meeting next Tuesday to discuss the issue. The matter is expected to be handed over to the party's disciplinary committee to resolve.

According to the MCA constitution, the disciplinary committee will initiate investigation and inquiry upon receiving the complaint. It will then advise the presidential council to decide on the appropriate disciplinary action, if any, to be taken.

Meanwhile, the Umno supreme council has recommended that the MCA expels the Penang's duo. Umno president Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced his party's recommendation after the Umno supreme council meeting yesterday.

However, he also said that the decision on what course of action to take against the duo will be left to the MCA to decide.

Mahathir added that the BN coalition was prepared to study the case anytime if MCA wants the front to decide on the fate of Tan and Boo Chang.