The two 'errant' MCA state assembly members who abstained from voting against an opposition motion on the Penang Outer Road Ring project will not know their fate until the party presidential council meets next week.

MCA disciplinary committee chairperson Kam Woon Wah (photo) said the hearing on the duo was completed today and the recommendations on actions to be taken would likely be submitted on Monday to the council.

He said the two state assembly members Lim Boo Chang (Dato Keramat) and Tan Cheng Liang (Jawi) were "very cooperative and friendly" at the two-hour hearing to explain why they had abstained from voting on a DAP motion to defer the RM1.02 billion Porr project in the Penang legislature last month.

Asked if he was satisfied with their explanation, Kam replied, "some yes, some not".

However, he refused to comment on the recommendations beyond saying "it is more or less decided".

He also asked parties interested in the case to be "patient for a couple of days because every thing will be ready. There is no danger of repeating the same incident (by the duo)".

Both Lim and Tan declined to comment on their case pending a decision by the presidential council.

"We will not say anything prejudicial to the disciplinary committee decision, we respect very much the decision that the committee will make. Please pardon us for not telling you anything," said Lim.

Expulsion possibility

On the possibility they would be expelled by the party, they said they will leave it to the party leadership and "humbly abide by the party's decision".

According to MCA party constitution, the 21-member presidential council can meet as and when required by the president at a notice of not less than 24 hours. This means that the council could, after receiving the report from the disciplinary committee, conclude the case by next week.

Gerakan and Umno leaders including party president Dr Mahathir Mohamad had called for the duo to be sacked as their abstention was said to have breached the coalition's voting discipline.

More statements

Apart from Tan and Lim, MCA Penang vice chairperson Koah Kar Huah and state assembly member Dr Sak Cheng Lum (Bagan Jermal) also gave their statements at today's hearing. Sak was among the eight BN backbenchers who were absent at the time of the voting on the opposition motion. Of the eight, five were from MCA, two Umno and one Gerakan.

MCA Penang chairperson Wong Kam Hoong who had earlier been called to be attend the hearing was overseas.

The MCA disciplinary committee on Tuesday had written a letter asking Penang Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon to explain eight unaccounted votes from BN against the DAP motion.

The letter which was widely reported in the media was later described by Koh as an 'open trial' against him.

Kam said Koh had not replied to the letter but had instead asked state BN secretary Khalid Ahmad to tell the committee to apply to national BN.