MCA Youth chief Ong Tee Keat today told off the 10 state chairpersons who called him " kurang ajar " (ill-mannered) and said such criticisms should be directed to the party president.

Ong said the 10 Youth leaders claiming to represent the state youth wings should feel ashamed of themselves for going against the majority's decision.

"To [these leaders], perhaps their choice of political connections presides over their political conscience," Ong told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

Yesterday, the 10 wanted Ong to retract his demand on Sunday, that president Dr Ling Liong Sik apologise over a statement on the position of two youth leaders who were removed.

They said Ong's demand did not represent the majority of the Youth central committee and delegates.

Ong had wanted Ling to apologise for insisting that former secretary-general Yew Teong Look and former vice-chairperson Loh Seng Kok were still holding the posts they had been removed from at the Youth AGM on Aug 3.

Since the AGM, Ong has sacked or demoted more than 10 youth leaders including organising secretary Hang Chin Pheng.

Yesterday, the 10 said that Ong was "arrogant and disrespectful" to party veterans and leaders and had reflected in his statement to Ling, his contempt of the parent body, party president and members.

They also demanded that Ong apologise to the 900,000 MCA members for his behaviour.

The 10 who made the call in a signed statement were Hoo Seong Chang (Johor), Yew Teong Look (Federal Territory), Soon Tian Szu (Melaka), Chng Toh Eng (Selangor), Ho Cheng Wang (Perak), Toh Chin Yaw (Terengganu), Yip Chee Kiong (Negeri Sembilan), Lau Chiek Tuan (Penang) and Tan Ken Ten (Kelantan).

Gag order breach

Ong also said having the word kurang ajar hurled at him reminded him of an obscene sign shown him during one of the central committee meetings chaired by Ling.

He said Ling had not objected when it happened.

He also noted that it was the party president who was the first to disobey a gag order which he had issued himself.

"Who was the first person to breach the gag order proposed by none other than Ling himself?" queried Ong.

"Ling repeatedly overruled the terms set by the Youth AGM to remove Loh Seng Kok and Yew Teong Look," he added.