Come January next year, there will be a new school in town. The 'MCA school of political studies'.

Announcing this today, party secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan said the services of more than 10 local and foreign scholars have been engaged to teach in this school.

Ong, who is the brother of MCA president Ka Ting, will be its first principal.

"I will be the principal for the time being, we still need a more qualified principal for the long term. At present, I hope to find an academic to be the vice-principal so that he can hire more scholars," he told a press conference at the MCA headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Ong said the foreign scholars were from Taiwan and Singapore although the school would prefer local academics who have a better understanding of the domestic situation.

He said classes will be held at the party headquarters according to the 'credit-hour system' and students will be issued a certificate upon completing the course.

"After they (participants) pass the examinations, we hope they can get recognition from local and international universities with our certificate," he added.

Free courses

According to the proposal, the political schools aims to produce humanistic and ethical party cadres with an international vision. It also wants to ensure sustainable development in every field for the Chinese community.

The short term objective of the project is to set up different courses for ordinary members, leaders and public. The long term objective is to establish a research institution to provide academic courses equivalent to masters and doctorate courses in universities.

The courses for members comprise of three parts: professional skills, humanism and sociology and political science.

As for leaders, Ong said the school will invite them to attend certain courses conducted by reputable scholars.

The courses, which will be conducted in English and Mandarin, will be free for members and the public.

The subjects offered for members include the history, mission and direction of the party, contemporary political thought in Asia, Chinese philosophy, western philosophy, public relationship, political science, public administration, management skills and Chinese culture.

He stressed that the school has no intention to bring in communism although he had visited schools set up by the Communist Party in China.