Sacked for Anything But Chua Soi Lek initiative: Hwa Beng DEMANDS reinstatement

KUALA LUMPUR — Recently sacked MCA member Datuk Lee Hwa Beng has demanded that the party reinstate his membership.

In a letter to party secretary-general Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, he said his expulsion did not comply with the mandatory procedures under MCA’s constitution.

Lee said he received his expulsion letter, dated October 4, which read: “Kindly be informed that the MCA Central Committee meeting held on October 3 had deliberated on your case and found you had tarnished the image of the party in Facebook and blogs which contravened the Code of Conduct of MCA members. Therefore the meeting had decided to expel you from the party with immediate effect in accordance with Article 5.24 of the party constitution.”

The letter further stated: “Please be informed that according to Article 128 of the party constitution, the decision of the central committee on matters of discipline shall be final and conclusive and shall not be subject to question by or in any court of law.”

Lee said he was “deeply shocked, baffled and aggrieved” to read the contents of the letter.

“I categorically state there is no basis, legal or otherwise, to expel me,” he said.

“I was informed by central committee members themselves that I was sacked because I invited (DAP adviser) Lim Kit Siang to attend my book launch but in the letter it was stated otherwise. I don’t even have a blog and the expulsion letter did not specify the Facebook postings.”

He said the party did not comply with the mandatory procedures in pursuant to Part XV of the constitution as he was never notified or served with any complaint or charge to answer.

He said he was not given the opportunity to be heard before the disciplinary committee of the party.

“The party had abused the rules of natural justice and my so-called termination is a sham,” Lee said.

“I have been deprived the basic rights and privileges which I am entitled to as a member and the party must reinstate my membership and also issue an apology.”

Lee, who started the Anything but Chua Soi Lek (ABC) movement, claimed he was sacked as the leadership did not want him to attend the party’s extraordinary general meeting on October 20.

He said he had not set any deadline for Kong to reply to his demands but hoped it can be done before the Dec 22 annual general meeting, failing which he would reserve his rights to pursue legal action against the party.

The Malay Mail