MCA Presidential Council today endorsed the report of its ad hoc veteran committee to reinstate two Youth leaders who were sacked at the wing's annual general assembly four months ago.

"The impromptu resolutions to remove the speaker, secretary-general, and vice-chairperson did not follow proper procedure and, therefore, are null and void," read the 10-page report of the Aug 3 meeting.

The Youth 38th AGM was punctuated by a bomb hoax, fist-fights, chair-throwing, and the sacking of two leaders - Youth secretary-general Yew Tiong Look and vice-chairperson Loh Seng Kok, seen to be in the so-called Team A led by the party president.

Following that, a committee comprising six veteran members was set up to investigate the fracas but its constitutionality was questioned by Team B - led by the deputy president - which said the probe should have been left to the party's existing disciplinary committee.

On the culprit of the AGM fracas, the committee said in its report, "It is very difficult for us to exactly determine who. . .as this would mean that we are taking over the role of the police."

The report did not dispute the legality of the Aug 3 AGM but nullified the June 23 Youth extraordinary general meeting on grounds that the EGM was called on a short notice of less than eight days.

A resolution which opposed the takeover of two Chinese newspapers by the party, together with a no-confidence vote against Yew, was passed at the controversial EGM.

Divided party

The purchase of Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press had divided the party leaders and members into two camps - 'Team A' which favoured the deal and 'Team B' which opposed it.

The veteran committee took Youth chief Ong Tee Keat and speaker Lim Hong Sang to task for "premeditating" the ruckus.

It was said that Ong had "ridiculed and attacked" several Youth central committee members in his opening speech which led to the disorder at the AGM.

While Lim was held responsible for, among others, allowing emergency motions to sack two Youth leaders, and refusing to step down amid requests for him to be replaced with the deputy speaker.

The committee called for Ong, Lim, and Yew to be "censured" but did not elaborate on Yew's misconduct.

The committee headed by former vice-president Kam Woon Wah also did not specify the actions to be taken against the trio, stating it is up to the presidential council (PC) or the central committee (CC) to decide.

Five opposed

After the two-hour PC meeting today, party president Dr Ling Liong Sik told a press conference that Yew and Loh are back in their Youth posts.

"Yew Teong Look is now the de facto and de jure secretary-general and Loh Seng Kok is also the de facto and de jure vice-chairperson," Ling announced.

Ling revealed that the decision to accept the findings of the veteran committee was approved by 15 out of 20 PC members.

The five who opposed the findings were party deputy president Lim Ah Lek who leads 'Team B', vice-presidents Chua Jui Meng and Chan Kong Choy, Youth chief Ong Tee Keat, and central committee member Fu Ah Kiow.

A resolution was, however, passed unanimously to reveal the findings to the press.

Asked why the five voted against the findings, Ling said the reasons were "too long" and he could not remember all of them.

He said since the PC and the CC had not decided on actions against the trio who misbehaved at the Youth AGM - as recommended by the veteran committee - the media should not speculate on what may happen to Ong, Lim and Yew.

'Team B' members left the board room immediately after the PC meeting.

Rubber-stamping

Youth chief Ong said the report presented by the veteran committee was "biased" but added that there was no need for tomorrow's Youth CC meeting to be called off.

MCA Youth CC will meet tomorrow in Serdang - after a lapse of five months - to clear the air over the wing's AGM brawl. Serdang is said to be the stronghold of Team B.

Ong refused to comment on what would be done should Loh, who is reinstated in his post, turn up at tomorrow's meeting with his supporters.

Deputy president Ah Lek said he was not surprised by the report. "Ling repeatedly said Yew and Loh should retain their posts until the investigation is over. What happened today (at the PC meeting) was just the rubber-stamping of the president's decision."

He criticised Ling for sidestepping the CC and endorsing the findings of the committee in haste.

However, he refused to comment on their next move, saying, "Be patient, just watch and see."

Political pundits noted that the recent bickering within MCA indicated a likely vigorous contest at the party's elections scheduled by next August.

Chua who is also the health minister is believed to have cast his eye on the party presidency.