The MCA presidential council today decided to revoke the indefinite suspension on two Penang state assembly representatives. It also issued a stern warning to Youth chief Ong Tee Keat for tarnishing the party's image.

Party president Ong Ka Ting said it was decided that the errant duo - Tan Cheng Liang (Jawi) and Lim Boo Chang (Dato Keramat) - be reinstated after being suspended for more than six months.

"During this period, we have been continuously receiving appeals from the people, particularly from the two respective constituencies, to reinstate the two so that they can carry out their duties more effectively.

"Lately, the two state assembly representatives have also written an appeal to be reinstated," he told a press conference at the MCA headquarters in Kuala Lumpur where the two-hour meeting was held.

Best interest

The duo were suspended on Dec16 for abstaining from voting on an opposition motion to defer the controversial RM1.02 billion Penang Outer Ring Road (PORR) project.

On Jan 7, the Barisan Nasional supreme council decided to adopt the decision made by MCA. Coalition chairperson and Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the lifting of the suspension would be decided by BN.

At the height of the controversy, Umno and Gerakan had called for the duo to be sacked on the grounds that indiscipline should not be tolerated.

Ong said the reinstatement would be in the "best interest" of the BN.

"The lifting of the suspension would definitely enable these two state assembly representatives to continue to serve their constituencies well," he added.

He said MCA will convey its decision to BN immediately after the meeting and is confident that it would be accepted.

Stern warning

On the stern warning for the Youth chief, the president said it was made after the council deliberated on the report from the disciplinary committee headed by veteran Kam Woon Wah.

He added that the council also took Tee Keat's earlier explanation into consideration.

"We decided to give a stern warning to Tee Keat so that he should exercise care to ensure that his future public statements will not cause embarrassment to the party," he said, adding that no further action will be initiated.

He added that the council also agreed to "internally" look further into Tee Keat's clarification on the 'Youth fracas ' in August 2001. The wing's annual meet then was marred by a bomb hoax and fights.

The Youth chief was also present at this afternoon's meeting. MCA initiated disciplinary proceedings against him for alleging that the party was infiltrated by triads , casting doubt on the management of the Chang Ming Thien Foundation fund and not respecting the leadership.

Ong said the two decisions regarding the reinstatement and warning were made unanimously.