About 70 percent of MCA central delegates prefer Chinese-educated leaders who have a strong command of Mandarin to helm the party, according to a random newspaper poll.

The survey by Chinese-language daily Nanyang Siang Pau showed that delegates also want their leaders to have an in-depth understanding of the issues and needs of the community.

"Thus it is very important for the party to have Chinese educated leaders and those able to converse in fluent Mandarin fluently," said a report in the MCA-owned daily today.

According to the report, questionnaires were sent to 65 delegates in 12 states and a federal territory in the middle of last month.

The five delegates surveyed from each state answered the questions on condition of anonymity and the questionnaires were collected at the end of last month.

Although the results are not representative of the demands and ideas of some 2,000 central delegates, the report said this should be a reference point because some the respondents are influential grassroots leaders.

"To a certain extent, their opinions could represent the opinions of a sizable number of delegates," it added.

Party president Ong Ka Ting and his deputy Chan Kong Choy are both Chinese educated.

'High-handed' leadership

In a related development, MCA presidential hopeful Chua Jui Meng said he was saddened and disappointed that the current leadership is being "high-handed".

In an interview with the same newspaper, Chua said "white terror"is stalking party members, who fear that action will be taken if they are found to be in touch with him.

"I've never seen such severe suppression...All the state liaison committees and divisions have to declare their support for the leadership of Ong and Chan...What is this culture? Does MCA still have democracy?" he was quoted as saying.

He cited a newspaper report which claimed that an event involving him in Butterworth, Penang, had been cancelled as nobody turned up to meet him.

According to Chua, the report contained a hidden agenda and twisted the facts

"I've been in touch with a few divisional leaders. At least five of them said they would attend the function. But after that my secretary received calls from them that they could not make it because of certain circumstances," he explained.

"Since you (divisional leaders) did not want to attend, I cancelled it. I cancelled it myself, as I thought it's clear enough to everyone as to what's going on now... I understand your (divisional leaders and central delegates) situation."