The new inquiry committee set up by MCA to investigate the ruckus which erupted at the party youth wing's recent annual general meeting, could be part of an orchestrated effort to oust the Youth chief.

When contacted, Youth chief Ong Tee Keat said today that the ulterior motive of certain quarters to rid him was "conspicuous".

However, Ong , who is known to have openly opposed party president Dr Ling Liong Sik on several issues, warned those engineering his ouster that it will not be an easy task. He said that he will fight any such attempt.

"I believe that justice will prevail and it is the only right thing to do in order to clear my name. They have smeared me over and over again," he said.

On Sept 3, the party presidential council had announced the setting up of a committee to investigate two issues which have given rise to a seeming split in the Youth wing.

The first is the legality of the June 23 extraordinary general meeting that had voted against the party's takeover of Nanyang Press Holdings - publisher of dailies Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press - and the second is the brawl at the Aug 3 AGM.

The AGM adopted several resolutions, including one that dismissed Youth secretary-general Yew Teong Look and vice-chairperson Loh Seng Kok from their posts.

Both of them are said to be aligned to party chief Ling's faction. Loh is the party president's political secretary.

Yesterday, Ling was quoted by The Star as saying that both of the so-called sacked leaders will keep their posts until the inquiry committee concludes its findings and submits them to the disciplinary board for further action.

Veteran members

The Sun reported today that four veteran party members had been appointed into the inquiry committee.

They are former vice-presidents Dr Lew Sip Hon and Chan Lip Chee, former secretary-general Kam Woon Wah and former Kelantan party chief Wee Khoon Hock.

When contacted by malaysiakini , Chan, 71, who is now the Perak MCA state adviser, denied any knowledge of his appointment.

"Nobody approached me or told me anything about this. I have not been actively involved in party affairs," he said.

However, the other appointees could not be reached for clarification.

Asked to comment on Ling's announcement, Ong said he was taken aback as the president himself had earlier issued a gag order to prohibit party leaders and members from making statements to the media on internal affairs.

"Ling not only breached the gag order but is also challenging the decision made by the Youth delegates at both general meetings by setting up the committee," said Ong.

"Instead of a different committee, the disciplinary board should have been the proper authority to identify the perpetrators who had caused the pandemonium at the AGM," he added.

He stressed that the untoward incident was just a matter of breaching party discipline and not tantamount to nullifying the AGM itself.

Succession woes

The Youth 38th AGM early last month was marred by a series of fracas punctuated by fists fights and flying chairs.

Sources said party deputy president Lim Ah Lek who is heading the disciplinary board has been overseas for the past several weeks.

It is commonly perceived that the two top leaders, Lim and Ling, had been at loggerheads over the question of succession.

Political observers say that the recent bickering in MCA is largely due to the coming party elections scheduled for next August.

The RM230 million takeover of Nanyang Press in May saw a sharp divide within the party, with both camps going on nationwide road-shows to garner support. Ong was then in the opposing faction led by Lim.