MCA Youth chief Ong Tee Keat, currently embroiled in an internal party struggle with claims that certain quarters wanted him out, said that all political parties would always have "elements of factionalism".

"You see partisan politics, be it in a ruling party or opposition, including in certain totalitarian regimes," he told malaysiakini during a break at this morning's Parliament session.

"I don't think we (people in politics) can get away from factionalism," Ong said when asked whether the recent call on him to respond to a number of remarks he made was indicative of factionalism and infighting in MCA.

According to a report in The Star on Nov 17, MCA Youth deputy Loh Seng Kok said that there are at least two matters that Ong had to answer to at a party Central Committee meeting (CCM) scheduled this Friday.

For one, he had been quoted in news reports as saying that there were rumours that he might be sacked for allegedly breaking a "gag order" on the Chang Ming Thien Foundation (CMTF) education fund, and secondly, that there had been efforts to bar him from attending the last Central Committee meeting in Penang last month.

The reports also said that Loh had demanded Ong to reveal who was spreading rumours of a move to sack Ong.

Ong, who is also Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports, had previously spoken up on the issue of the CMTF, wanting to know why the RM10 million education fund set up by the late philanthropist Chang Ming Thien 20 years ago was not activated ([#1]MCA Youth chief wants explanation for unused RM10mil fund[/#], Oct 6).

Ong was the only MCA leader seen to have made a public statement calling for "transparency and accountability" on the matter, but this earned the ire of several party members.

Not fabrication

"Nobody could be swayed or rather be influenced to say something untruthful which goes against their conscience," Ong stressed today.

Referring to a party function in Sabak Bernam where the local residents expressed their concern over his future, Ong said there were many speculations during the height of the CMTF issue and there were party leaders making proposals to report him (Ong) to a disciplinary board.

"That was reported anyway (in the Chinese press), in fact that was not my fabrication. I do not have the time and interest to fabricate something.

"If at all I were to fabricate lies, which I don't think I would, don't you think the grassroots leaders have the kind of wisdom to differentiate which is which?" Ong added."