Five MCA leaders suspended for not helping in GE13

Five MCA grassroots leaders were today suspended from the party for six months to three years for not helping in the campaigns of their colleagues who stood as candidates in the last general election, party president Dr Chua Soi Lek announced.

Chua said the MCA disciplinary board conducted hearings against the five following several complaints the party received about members not helping in the election campaign.

The MCA presidential council, which met today, endorsed most of the recommendations made by the disciplinary board, he said, adding that the decision made was "rational" and based on the evidence produced.

The party imposed a three-year suspension on Batu Gajah division deputy chief Lee Kon Yin, a year's suspension for Seremban division chief Peter Lai, central committee member and Serdang division chief Liew Yuen Keong and Penampang division deputy Youth chief Jack Leow, while Serdang division deputy chief Hoh Hee Lee was suspended for six months.

"They can appeal their suspensions with the central committee within 14 days," Chua told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur this evening.

On complaints against the Penampang MCA division, Chua said the party is of the opinion that the evidence gathered was not conclusive and instructed the disciplinary board to conduct another hearing.

Asked the reason for Lee getting the most severe punishment of three years' suspension, Chua said the BN and MCA expected Lee to actively help his colleague during GE13.

Being BN's Tronoh state seat coordinator, he said, it was not considered necessary to select Lee as an election candidate.

Close to 40 members, witnesses and complainants were called to testify in the two days of hearing held by the MCA disciplinary board recently to investigate complaints of sabotage made during the GE13 campaign period.