After being suspended and sidelined, former MCA Wanita deputy chief Dr Tan Yee Kew's political career was given a new lease of life today.

MCA president Ong Ka Ting, following a five-hour long Central Committee (CC) meeting at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, announced that Tan was appointed a CC member with immediate effect.

"We feel that she should come back and join us in the CC to serve the party both as a CC member as well as parliamentary secretary (for the International Trade and Industry Ministry)," he told a press conference.

Tan was suspended six months ago for breaching the internal disciplinary code by distributing a video-clip showing a scuffle that erupted during an MCA branch election to the media and others.

Due to this, she was unable to contest in the party elections in August. Her suspension ended on Wednesday.

Unanimous decision

Meanwhile, Ong said the CC had unanimously agreed to her appointment.

"No one objected... I exercised my power as president in accordance with the party constitution and in consultation with the CC I made the appointment," he added.

He said all MCA leaders especially those holding government positions and contributing to the team will be given an opportunity to be in the party's central leadership.

"I have not spoken to her before I made the decision. She has not lobbied or appealed for it. (The decision was) purely based on our judgement that she should be part of the team," he explained.

Asked if he had refrained from announcing the appointment earlier because it would have irked certain Wanita leaders, he replied that he was 'not afraid of anything'.

"This is the president's prerogative. I respect the CC and hence announced it at the meeting. If anyone has a different opinion then they should have raised it here. But no CC members said anything," he said.

Happy with appointment

In an immediate response, Tan said she was happy that the president had trust in her and pledged to continue contributing to the team.

"There have been a lot of speculations about my appointment. But I am looking forward to be reappointed," she said when contacted.

However, she declined to comment on whether her appointment would not go down well with certain leaders in the wing.

It is widely known that Tan and current Wanita deputy chief Chow Mei Fun, who is close to the wing's top leader Dr Ng Yen Yen, do not see eye-to-eye.

In another development, Ong denounced a poison-pen letter which has been circulating among the central delegates.

"The letter said the CC members will interfere in party branches and ignore the rights of the branches' heads," he revealed.

"The letter is misleading and distorts the true picture," he said.