In what appeared to be a veiled threat to MCA, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today that Barisan Nasional has the power to determine which party can be a member of the ruling front.

The premier was responding to MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik's statement yesterday that BN could not directly impose any disciplinary action on individual members of component parties.

"Yes that is true. However the BN has the power to determine which party can be a member of Barisan Nasional," Mahathir was quoted as saying by Bernama .

The prime minister, who is also BN chairperson, stressed that if any component party is not prepared to abide by the Barisan Nasional stand then it means it no longer upholds the system of cooperation in the front.

Ling was reported to have said that according to the BN constitution, participation in the front was based on parties and not individuals.

Therefore, he added. it was the responsibility of a component party to take disciplinary action against errant members.

Breach of discipline

MCA is faced with the dilemma of dealing with its Penang leaders Lim Boo Chang and Tan Cheng Liang state assembly representatives for Datuk Keramat and Jawi respectively who abstained from voting on a DAP motion tabled in the state assembly on Nov 21 to defer the RM1 billion Penang Outer Ring Road project (Porr).

Their abstention came under fire from leaders of BN component parties as they were said to have breached discipline in the ruling front. All BN state assembly members in Penang did not object to the project at an internal meeting prior to that of the assembly.

On Nov 29, the Umno supreme council proposed that MCA sack the duo from the party and this was supported by Gerakan leaders, including president Dr Lim Keng Yaik and vice-president Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

Mahathir had said then that the final decision would be left to the MCA president on advice by the ruling coalition.

In response to this, Ling had said that "MCA is always willing to listen to views and advice from its friends in the Barisan Nasional. They have been patient and have given us very good advice".

The MCA disciplinary committee will hear the duo's case on Friday.