As MCA Wanita today decided to refer to the disciplinary committee those who harp o­n its chief Dr Ng Yen Yen's past status as an Australian permanent resident, Youth members demonstrated outside the party headquarters calling for her resignation.

At the end of a two-hour Wanita central committee meeting this afternoon, the wing's secretary-general Chang Yok Ying read out a statement, in the presence of Ng, which said the PR status issue was "closed".

"The question of her (Ng) allegiance to the country does not arise. A permanent resident of Australia, unlike a citizen, cannot hold an Australian passport, vote, stand for Parliament and hold an office in the public service.

"Ng holds o­nly o­ne citizenship and that is Malaysian citizenship. She is a loyal Malaysian citizen who is serving the country with her deepest convictions and dedication," said Chang.

Chang said as culture, arts and tourism deputy minister, Ng has "tirelessly promoted Malaysia abroad and (this) resulted in the flourishing of tourist arrivals into our country".

She added that Ng has also "propelled Wanita MCA to new heights" as its "undisputed leader".

Serious implications

In view of this, Chang said the committee will "not hesitate to recommend to the presidential council to initiate disciplinary action against any Wanita leader or member who openly comments o­n the issue of Ng's PR status after this".

Ng was thrust into limelight last week after the media reported that she was an Australian PR when she was appointed senator in 1993.

She later claimed that the PR status was to enable her to visit her children studying in Australia then, and that she had revoked it since 1995.

When met after the meeting, Wanita deputy chief Dr Tan Yee Kew said it was "not a unanimous decision to issue a gag order" o­n members of the wing regarding this controversy.

"I did not agree with the order because this will have serious implications o­n MCA Wanita. This may give the impression that we condone a person with a foreign PR status holding public office," said the leader aligned to Team B led by MCA deputy president Lim Ah Lek.

Team B is o­ne of the two factions in the party which openly split since its controversial purchase of two Chinese dailies two years ago. The other faction Team A is led by president Dr Ling Liong Sik.

'Double standards'

Earlier, as the committee meeting proceeded, some 100 Youth members gathered outside Wisma MCA and demanded that Ng resign. They also called o­n party chief Ling ( left ) and secretary-general Dr Ting Chew Peh ( right ) to step down as well.

They held placards and banners which read, among others: 'Double standards! Ling and Ting resign!', 'Yen Yen, prove your loyalty to the country before criticising Youth' and 'We support (Youth chief) o­ng Tee Keat'.

The demonstrators also said Ng's datukship, which was awarded by Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang, should be revoked in view of her lack of loyalty to the country.

Youth secretary-general Liow Tiong Lai ( photo ) and his deputy Chai Kim Sen delivered short speeches assuring their supporters that "their fight will continue".

At a press conference at the party headquarters later, Liow said the Youth grassroots were "angered by Ling's action to divert public attention from the real issue by putting the blame o­n o­ng".

He said the grassroots would continue to support the Youth chief who was yesterday referred to the disciplinary committee for further action by the pro-Ling presidential council o­n the grounds that he had tarnished the party's image.

Ling criticised

Liow criticised the party president for having acted against o­ng instead of initiating an investigation into the triad links in the party as claimed by the Youth chief.

"We regret that he (Ling) has refused to face reality and give proper explanations regarding the issue to the party members and the Malaysian Chinese community," he said.

Last weekend, the outspoken O­ng shocked the public when he claimed triads had infiltrated the party.

Following this, the party president asked o­ng to back his claim with the names of party leaders linked to triads.

The Youth chief subsequently gave the names to Acting Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional chairperson Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in the hope that the latter would investigate the matter.

However, Abdullah passed them o­n to Ling and asked the MCA chief to probe the matter instead.

Public apology

Meanwhile, at a separate press conference, MCA Wanita Klang division chief Low See Mee ( photo ) asked Ng to apologise to the public for having concealed her PR status when she was a senator.

"It is nonsense to say that it is okay now because she is no longer a PR. I think she did that unwillingly (and) o­nly because of her political interests," said Low, a Klang municipal councillor.

She said in others countries, if government leaders were involved in a scandal similar to that faced by Ng, they would have resigned.

"She should therefore apologise and resign from all her party and government posts immediately," she said.