MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik today warned that stern action would be taken against party members who dabble in money politics.

"I've heard rumours that some party members, involved in money politics, used millions of ringgit for political support," he said at the party's 54th anniversary in Johor Bahru.

He said party's secretary-general Dr Ting Chew Peh's speech earlier - which touched o­n money politics - was timely with efforts to eradicate money politics within the party.

According to Ting, the practice involved 'gifts' such as holidays to Langkawi and Haadyai, 'study trips', 'thank you dinners' and 'unity dinners'.

"All these can be classified as bribes", he said.

Disciplinary action

In his speech, Ting also said that MCA's enemies were not outsiders but people within the party.

"As such MCA must take disciplinary action to maintain the party's good name regardless of whether those guilty are from the grassroots level or senior leaders", he added.

Meanwhile, Dr Ling was quoted in a Bernama report as saying that he was aware of the matter but that it has yet to reach a serious level.

He said the party would be firm in acting against such errant members because in the long run, they could destroy the party.

The president reportedly said o­n Thursday during the presidential council meeting that the undercurrents of disunity within MCA are becoming "small streams" and unlikely to create a negative impact o­n the party's performance in the next general election.

He said party members were "getting a little bit fed up with unnecessary undercurrents" and wanted to get o­n with their work, citing the newly launched Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar).