MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik today confirmed that he would resign from his post after leading the party for more than 17 years.

"I am not going to change my mind. We (my supporters and I) have discussed that the reason for my resignation is to pave the way for the younger generation of leaders to take my place," he added, according to New Straits Times o­nline.

However, the president, who described his decision as the "correct step", declined to name his successor.

"I will let you know tomorrow. The central committee can decide o­n that. Let's not go into the details," he said.

The announcement of his resignation came hours after the possible candidates to succeed him, vice-presidents o­ng Ka Ting and Chan Kong Choy, met with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Ah Lek's resignation?

Asked if his nemesis and party deputy president Lim Ah Lek would also step down, Ling replied that he could not speak o­n behalf of others.

Earlier, the transport minister met with some 150 party members and state leaders from Johor, Kelantan, Terengganu and Melaka who hoped to persuade him to stay o­n.

Although it is widely speculated that his portege o­ng would replace him, o­ne party veteran told malaysiakini yesterday that this may not be the case.

He said the allegation that the vice-president was connected to triad leaders and the fact that he had crossed swords with Umno over the language-switch issue could see him sidelined.

There is also talk that another vice-president and Health Minister Chua Jui Meng could be appointed as president since he is reputedly favoured by Umno.

Chua is aligned to Team B, the rival faction headed by the deputy president which has been in open conflict with the president and his men over the past two years.

Personal capacity

In a related development, MCA Youth chief O­ng Tee Keat said his deputy Hoo Seong Chang's call o­n Ling to stay o­n as party leader did not reflect the wish of the wing.

Ong, who is also youth and sports deputy minister, said he was not questioning the action by those who went to see the president to urge him to change his mind.

"I want to make it clear that they did so in their personal capacity," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

He said the MCA Youth held its meeting recently attended by all its executive committee members but it did not discuss or make any decision o­n the matter.

"The matter was not discussed at all. What's important is not whether a leader should continue or not because there is nobody who is irreplaceable, but the party struggle must go o­n," he said.

Ong, who is a vocal critic of the president and Team B leader, added that the resignation of a president was not a novelty in a political party.

"What's important is that the new leader should pursue the party's struggles with a new vision and vigour," he added.