A MCA Johor leader barred the distribution of Oriental Daily News and allegedly threatened to throw copies of the Chinese-language newspaper into a dustbin during the state wing's convention on Saturday.

Fifteen minutes later, state secretary Tee Siew Kiong had a change of heart.

In a report on the incident, Oriental Daily News said Tee had prevented its staff from distributing the newspaper at the convention hall and car park.

He then allegedly warned that he would throw the copies into the trash if they were not removed from the front entrance.

According to the daily, which is known for ruffling feathers in MCA with its scathing articles, he also lodged a police report on the matter.

When quizzed by its staff, Tee had told them that the directive came from MCA Johor committee chairperson and Health Minister Dr Chua Soi Lek ( photo ).

He claimed that Oriental Daily News , unlike other Chinese-language newspapers, had not informed him about distributing its publication at the venue.

However, Tee later relented and allowed the newspaper's staff to continue distributing the copies.

He was also quoted as telling them "Let's be good to each other".

'They were rude'

Contacted today, Tee denied that the daily was barred because of its hard-hitting reports.

"This happened two days ago, I don't want to talk about it...We did not ban Oriental Daily for its reports, it is just because that they did not tell us beforehand about wanting to distribute the newspapers," he said.

"When I asked, the staff also could not answer. They were rude and did not know how to respect the organiser."

However, a party insider had a different version.

According to him, Chua - a staunch supporter of former MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik ( photo ) - was unhappy with one of the daily's reports which had accused the latter of meddling in the party's upcoming polls.

In a related development, it is said that, while current president Ong Ka Ting is looking forward to state leaders openly pledging support for him to fend off challenger Chua Jui Meng, the response from Johor has been dismal.

The state convention only had banners supporting Soi Lek in his candidacy for a vice-president's post.

Although Ong ( photo ) had started his political career in Johor, the state is now considered under the control of Soi Lek.

Previously, some media reports had claimed that Ong was alarmed by Soi Lek's meteoric rise in the state

The scenario was different at the MCA Malacca convention where two party members suddenly stood up and raised a banner in support of Ong and his deputy Chan Kong Choy ( photo ). This led all the leaders, except for Jui Meng, to stand up and express their support for the duo.

Ong later claimed that he had never directed any member to openly support him and the incident only revealed the wishes of the grassroots for the party to remain united.

He also refused to comment on Jui Meng's 20-page manifesto and told journalists that he is not going to issue any election manifesto to counter it.

On the same note, he hinted that the MCA leadership had executed all the issues raised in his challenger's manifesto over the past two years.