KUALA LUMPUR: Former MCA Legal Bureau Chief Datuk Leong Tang Chong has fired another salvo at the party’s current legal bureau chief Datuk Lim Hong Sang and secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng for disallowing two former central committee (CC) members to contest on March 28.

Leong said Lim and Wong could not rely on Articles 21 and 31 of the party constitution to bar ex-CC members Wong Nai Chee and Datuk Wong Mook Leong from contesting, noting that such provisions merely touched on the organisation and administration of the party as well as the composition of the general assembly.

"There is nothing here that mention about election or who can stand for election. All these articles they have cited are irrelevant and not applicable," he told a press conference at the MCA headquarters on Friday, March 19.

Nai Chee and Mook Leong who are also not central delegates have been ineligible to contest as Lim had said Article 33 provided clearly those qualified to contest the CC were incumbent CC members, central delegates, members of parliament, state assemblymen, state liaison committee chairman and division chairman.

Leong pointed out the provisions brought up by Lim and Wong including that of Article 38 which involved composition of the CC would only be relevant if polling for March 28 were to be a "normal party election".

He added "a normal party election" was held once every three years involving all levels of the party such as the CC, Youth and Wanita wings, divisions and branches.

"They have to ask themselves why they are having an election on March 28. The election on March 28 is not a normal party election. It was called after two-thirds of the central committee resigned," the veteran lawyer said.

Leong noted Article 41 takes effect as a result of the resignation of the two-thirds of the CC members and as such an election must be held within 30 days, adding that the March 28 poll was to elect the CC and not the other levels of the party.

"It is a special election as whoever is elected on March 28 will serve the remaining one and a half years only," he stressed.

"If Article 41 is not applicable, then why hold the election within 30 days?" noted Leong who previously held the legal bureau chief post for 15 years.

He also said Article 41 should be read in totality and added the last part of the article stated "provided that nothing herein shall prevent the re-election of any ex-central committee members".

As such, Leong noted that the relevant article allowed ex-CC members such as Nai Chee and Mook Leong to re-contest although they were not central delegates, noting that central delegates was not a criteria for re-election of the CC on March 28.

"It is so clear. Even first-year law students can understand this. Lay people like you can also understand," he added.

Leong, who was appointed as CC member for three terms, also said he had "nothing to apologise" to Lim and Wong over his recent remarks.

"Do I have to apologise for telling the truth or do I have to apologise for telling the facts?" he asked.

It was reported Leong had accused Wong of being misled by Lim and had told Lim to "go back to law school".

MCA Organising Secretary Simon Lim said Leong must retract his statement within 24 hours failing which he would lodge a complaint with the Malaysian Bar Council.