Deputy Home Affairs Minister Chor Chee Heung who is heading the MCA committee to investigate the fracas at the recent party Youth AGM said today that his appointment will have no bearing on police investigations into the same matter.

"I want to state in no uncertain terms that the affairs of the party has nothing to do with the police.

"I am appointed to perform certain tasks in the party, there is no reason why the police must be brought in," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

Chor was reacting to a statement by MCA Youth chief Ong Tee Keat yesterday who expressed reservations on the police investigations into the Aug 3 fracas following the appointment of Chor - whose ministry oversees the police.

"We had full faith that the police would act professionally in their investigations. But when Chor was appointed to head the committee, there were strong reservations,"said Ong.

Ong added that certain factions voiced criticism against deputy party president Lim Ah Lek, head of the disciplinary committee, to investigate the fracas because he was partial as he officiated the opening of the AGM.

If such was the case, Chor's appointment, while he is deputy home minister, the ministry where the police force is suppose to report to, is also questionable, said Ong.

However, Chor crticised Ong for questioning the professionalism of the police force.

"In so far as we are aware, the police force as a whole has achieve the highest degree of professionalism in discharging their responsibilities...let no one, more so leaders of the government, cast aspersion on the police force," he said.

Chor, who is a MCA central committee member, was recently appointed by the party presidential council to coordinate and speed up the investigations into the fracas. Chor heads a panel of six party veterans who were chosen for their "past experience and unbiased stand on the issue".

The Youth AGM made the headlines when it was marred by fist-fights, flying chairs and a bomb scare.

The unruly meet also saw the sacking of Youth vice chairman Loh Seng Kok and secretary - general Yew Tiong Look, both aligned to party president Dr Ling Liong Sik.

'Men of integrity'

Meanwhile, Chor also said he "regretted and felt sad" that members of the so-called 'Team B' were unhappy with the appointment of veteran leaders into the committee.

(Team B is made up of eight MCA leaders which include deputy president Lim, vice president Chua Jui Meng and Youth chief Ong. The eight had opposed to the MCA acquisition of two Chinese dailies resulting in a split within the party)

"We hope that every leader should give them (the veterans) to do their job. I pray no further adverse comment or public statement be made on this matter," he said.

"It has always been supreme and central to my thinking, that no one, however distantly connected to the present leadership, shall be a good candidate. That is why, with the help of the secretary-general, we hope to ensure that such members of the committee are not only once, twice but thrice removed," he added.

Yesterday, Chor confirmed the names of the six and the team was lauded by several state MCA leaders as being "men of integrity and qualified" to handle the case.

The six are MCA general assembly speaker Dr Wee Khoon Hock, former vice-president and secretary-general Kam Woon Wah, former Negeri Sembilan State chief Wong Seng Chow, former vice-president and former ambassador to the United States Lew Sip Hon, former vice-president Chan Kit Chee and former organising secretary Wang Choon Wing.