The factional battle within MCA Youth continued today with its chief, Ong Tee Keat, announcing that he was taking over the steering committee in charge of organising the wing's annual general meeting (AGM) next month.

Ong told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur that he was assuming secretary-general Yew Teong Look's responsibilities in the steering committee to ensure a smooth conduct of the AGM.

Last month, at the MCA Youth's emergency general meeting (EGM) to discuss the party's controversial takeover of two Chinese dailies, the delegates cast a no-confidence vote against Yew.

The Youth secretary-general was widely criticised for his failure to perform his duty when instructed by Ong to send out a notice calling for the EGM. The notice was eventually issued by Ong.

However, Ong insisted today that he was not taking away Yew's power and he (Yew) would remain part of the five-member steering committee.

"The question of depriving his power does not arise because the notice for the AGM will still be issued by him and he is to present his secretary-general's report," he said.

"I'm only the overall scrutiniser and coordinator to oversee the preparatory work of AGM," added Ong.

Personal battle

Ong said that Yew had personally called a MCA Youth central committee (CC) meeting without consulting him early last month and he could not condone a repeat of such an incident.

Yew had on July 3 issued a notice calling for the CC meeting, which was held about a week later. The meeting, without the presence of Ong and his supporters, declared the June 24 EGM invalid because it was held not in conformity with the party's constitution.

Asked whether, the personal battle between the two Youth heavyweights would further deteriorate their working relationship since party elections would not be held until next year, Ong said that the friction between them was 'a matter of perception'.

"I have tried to reconcile (with Yew), but unfortunately see what happened to me," Ong lamented, referring to poison-pen letters attacking him immediately after a reconciliation meeting on June 26.

Ong asserted that any reconciliation should come from all quarters.

"If we cannot draw a line between party interest and self-interest, it would be a problem," he said.

No observers

On another matter, Ong urged the DAP to allow its Youth leaders to openly air their opinions.

He was commenting on news reports which quoted DAP Youth chief Teng Chang Khim as saying that pressure was being exerted on him for asking chairman Lim Kit Siang to step down in the coming party elections.

"The top leadership in DAP seeks only opinions which support them and cannot accommodate contrarian views," said Ong.

At another press conference today, MCA secretary-general Ting Chew Peh said no observers would be allowed at the party's coming AGM, scheduled for Aug 4, due to limited space available in the meeting hall.

"Since we have many national and party issues this year, we are expecting a good turn-out," he said.

Prior to the AGM, MCA will have its CC meeting on July 31 to discuss resolutions which are to be debated at the annual general meeting.

"At the CC meeting, we will streamline the resolutions and president Ling Liong Sik will brief the CC members on the latest developments concerning Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman," said Ting.