MCA Youth chief Ong Tee Keat today said the internal integration talks to resolve the wing's protracted internal crisis is progressing "positively".

"We are moving forward and identifying common areas where we can work together," he said after chairing a three-hour MCA Youth central committee meeting at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Last week, the wing formed a five-man committee headed by Ong to resolve the crisis. Ong also sits on another seven-member committee mooted by the party's top leadership earlier for the same purpose.

Optimistic about talks

Despite being optimistic on the progress, Ong remained tightlipped when asked to elaborate on the task force's duties.

The Youth chief said he would not disclose details of the talks in public - even though the committee has discussed it at length as it was on the agenda of the meeting this morning.

He also refused to confirm whether the five-member panel has started their job, saying "I don't think I should tell the whole world what is going on in MCA Youth today".

Asked on speculations that the three state Youth chief posts would be left vacant if the two committees could not resolve the issue, Ong said he did not want to pre-empt things.

The state Youth chief position for Penang, Negeri Sembilan and Fedral Territory remain vacant as a consensus could not be reached on the posts following the 'no contest' policy imposed at last year party elections.

Aug 9 meeting

Responding to another question, he said no time frame has been fixed to resolve the matter.

The youth wing's annual general meeting is scheduled for Aug 9 at the Crown Princess Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. It will be officiated by party deputy president Chan Kong Choy.

MCA has been rocked by an internal crisis over the past two years, causing an open split into what was publicly known as Team A and Team B.

Ong said the meeting today also unanimously decided to support the proposal to limit the term of key posts in the party, notably that of president, Wanita and Youth heads.

He said a proposal to amend the Youth's constitution would be adopted during the annual general meeting in line with the parent body's proposal.

National service

On a separate matter, MCA Youth urged the Defence Ministry to reveal more details on the proposed national service which will be implemented next February.

Ong said the ministry should clear doubts on several " grey areas " such as the proposed random selection of trainees.

He said the wing plans to meet Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak to discuss the training contents.

Ong reiterated the movement's earlier call that the training should not affect the students' plan for further studies and that it should also incorporate multi-racial elements.