No complaint has been lodged to the MCA disciplinary board that party leaders and members have been prohibited to meet certain party candidates including presidential challenger Chua Jui Meng.

Board chairperson Chan Kong Choy urged those who have been prevented from meeting any candidate contesting in the forthcoming party elections to lodge an official complaint with the board.

"We want a democratic election and anyone eligible to contest should not be hindered but they should observe the election code of ethics," he was quoted in a Bernama report today.

Chan, who is also MCA deputy president, was asked to comment on media reports that party leaders and members in Sabah were 'directed' not to meet Chua during his visit to Sabah early this week.

Asked about Chua's plan to restructure the disciplinary board should he win the presidency, Chan said the board's composition had existed for a long time.

In his election manifesto unveiled yesterday, Chua had, among other things, said that the party's disciplinary board should be revamped.

He said MCA should emulate Umno's disciplinary board whose members are party elders and able to carry out their tasks without fear or favour as there was no conflict of interest.

Chan explained that the party changed the composition of its disciplinary board four years ago by appointing veteran members who no longer hold party posts but it did not work well.

"Because of this, we will leave it to the delegates (to the MCA assembly) to decide," he added.

The present MCA disciplinary board is headed by Chan and comprises vice presidents Dr Fong Chan Onn and Dr Chua Soi Lek, Youth chief Ong Tee Keat and Wanita chief Dr Ng Yen Yen.

Delegates' decision

Meanwhile, MCA president Ong Ka Ting also said that it was up to the party delegates to the general assembly to decide whether there is a need to revamp the party's disciplinary board.

Whatever is proposed by contenders for party posts can be taken up by the delegates for a decision to be made including the suggestion to review the party's disciplinary board, he was quoted as saying by Bernama yesterday.

The party president also denied that there was a directive from the top leadership prohibiting members to meet certain contenders.

"There is no such thing and it is up to the delegates to decide how they wish to vote at the party elections," he added.

On his grassroots support, Ong declined to speculate.

Several state liaison committees have declared their support to Ong and his deputy Chan Kong Choy.

The open expression of support for leaders has been described as another form of the unhealthy "menu politics" culture by Chua.

Meanwhile, the race for the four vice president posts will now be a nine-cornered contest with the inclusion of former Sabah MCA chairperson Chau Tet On yesterday. Chau also served as deputy chief minister in the Pairin Kitingan cabinet in the 1980's.

The other eight candidates for the post are Dr Fong Chan Onn, Dr Chua Soi Lek, Fu Ah Kiow, Ong Tee Keat, Donald Lim Siang Chai, Chor Chee Heung Tan Chai Ho and Yap Pian Hon.

The party elections will be held on August 20.