PETALING JAYA: MCA’s top leadership had unanimously called for an investigation into possible disciplinary breaches involving two party leaders during the Johor state election last month, says its secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon (pic).

       As such, he said the two leaders – Datuk Goh Tee Tee and Datuk Tee Siew Kiong – should stop making public comments until the party’s disciplinary committee concludes its probe.

       “These two leaders have attempted to stir public opinion and put pressure on the committee.

       “(This) is an unjust act against the majority of the party’s grassroots members.

       “I urge the two leaders to exercise self-control and await the decision of the disciplinary committee,” he said in a statement yesterday.

       Chong said the MCA central committee had always practised collective decision-making.

       Goh and Tee, as senior party leaders, should be familiar with this principle of MCA’s leadership that emphasises collective responsibility, he added.

       “Therefore, it is utterly irresponsible for them to point their fingers at the MCA president.

       “More importantly, these two divisional leaders also understand very well that all party members, regardless of position, must adhere to discipline and uphold party ethics and its image as their primary responsibility, rather than (pin) blame on the top party leadership,” he said.

       Goh and Tee had been referred to the disciplinary committee for being vocal about not being fielded as candidates in last month’s Johor election.

       Goh, who is the Ledang MCA division chief, claimed that the party did not consult with the division’s wings before fielding a candidate, resulting in the loss of the Tangkak state seat.

       As such, MCA’s central committee decided on March 18 to freeze the division, and appointed a three-person committee consisting of Leaw Kok Chan, Tan Tuan Peng and Datuk Lim Pay Hen to take over its operations and meetings.

       The division’s representatives, led by Goh, then held a protest over the matter on March 31.

       Tee, who is the Pontian MCA division chief, was quoted on April 21 as saying he was ready to face any action from the party that followed an inquiry which he attended the next day.

       Tee was called in after he held a press conference on Feb 25 which he claimed was to “explain myself to my supporters and voters over the reason why I was not fielded as a candidate”.

       He maintained that he was not in the wrong, adding that he had backed the Barisan Nasional candidates in Pontian throughout the campaigning period despite not being fielded.