MCA Youth has tacitly backed the proposed establishment of a Central Board of Trustees (CBOT), a move that has drawn the ire of other members of the Chinese Malaysian political party.

wee ka siong annouce to run for mca youth chief 210808 02 Youth secretary-general Wee Ka Siong said today: “As far as I understand, the conceptual paper was prepared by an independent body comprising professionals and will be tabled for discussion at the next MCA central committee meeting next Thursday.

“There is no knowing at this stage whether it will be subjected to changes or if it will be approved. This will be discussed. There is no reason for the Youth wing to oppose the proposal.”

The proposal is to be discussed just two days ahead of party elections on Oct 18. If approved, it will enable the CBOT to control the party’s assets said to be worth RM1.5 billion.

The move is being opposed by a group calling itself ‘Save MCA Party Committee’, which said that the decision on the proposal should be left to incoming leaders.

A top party leader who spoke on condition of anonymity said the proposal has been discussed over the past year “by a professional team (of individuals) who are non-partisan and not affiliated to any party leader”.

“It is a good structure and (the CBOT) is going to be managed professionally. The allegations and accusations made so far are rubbish,” he said.

He also dismissed a rumour being circulated by SMS that an outgoing party leader is interested in holding a top post in the CBOT.

Candidates for election

Wee told a press conference today that the Youth wing’s nomination day will be held simultaneously with that of the main party on Monday at Dewan San Choon, Wisma MCA, from 1-5pm.

There will be a 30-minute break for any formal complaints to be lodged, before candidates are allotted specific numbers on the ballot papers.

chan kong choy “Deputy president Chan Kong Choy (right) will grace the opening ceremony of the Youth AGM and elections next Friday,” said Wee.

In line with the party’s new political culture, the Youth wing will discourage the cai dan (voting menu) which has been the practice at party elections.

Wee cautioned Youth members not to believe everything sent via SMS, particularly messages linking or exploiting names of top Youth leaders with calls for voting support.

mca youth 2005 youth liow tiong lai “The Youth central committee meeting today expressed full support for our 10 leaders who will vie for seats in the main body, including chairperson Liow Tiong Lai (left) who will contest one of four (elected) vice-presidential posts.

Two of them - Wong Nai Chee and Yit Lee Kok - will re-contest for a seat in the Youth wing. Chai Kim Sen (now the wing’s deputy secretary general) will contest the secretary-general’s post and a central committee post in the main party, said Wee.

Some 380 Youth leaders have been elected to join other central delegates in casting their votes next Saturday.

Six Youth leaders have been nominated for a seat in the central committee: Wong Koon Mun (Selangor Youth chairperson), Ho You Meng (Youth cultural bureau chief), Wee Jeck Seng (Johor Youth head), Gan Ping Sieu (auditor), Tan Chin Meng (Perak Youth chairperson) and Tan Teik Cheng (Penang Youth leader).