Appointing a Chinese Malaysian as finance minister may lead to quarrels and evoke strong reactions from within the ruling Barisan Nasional, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Mahathir, who is also BN chairperson, said this during an interview with several Chinese newspapers on Monday, when asked to comment on whether a Chinese Malaysian will be chosen to manage the countrys finance.

The question was posed in the wake of the premiers praises for the Chinese community with regard to their finance management skills.

In the Cabinet, every party has been given certain ministerial posts. Each one handles a specific portfolio.

If we do not follow the existing formula to delegate the posts, say if I appoint a Gerakan leader to replace an outgoing MCA minister, there may be big fights among the parties, he was quoted by Nanyang Siang Pau today.

Mahathir who assumed the finance ministers post since his close ally Daim Zainuddin resigned on June 1 last year, said he is still considering the next candidate but added that he is still able to handle the job.

Of the 27 federal ministerial posts, Umno holds 16, MCA four, while MIC and Gerakan have one each.

The first finance minister of the country was the late Lee Hau Shik from MCA, who assumed the position from 1955 to 1958. This was followed by the late MCA president Tan Siew Sin who held the post twice (from 1959 to 1969 and from 1970 to 1974). He was the last Chinese Malaysian finance minister.

MCA leaders rapped

In the interview, Mahathir also rapped the leaders of the faction-ridden MCA for the ongoing bickering and worsening split in the party.

According to Nanyang Siang Pau today, the premier said this was his conclusion about the cause of the problems in MCA after having separate meetings with both opposing factions.

The split was due to the reluctance of both factions to compromise and tolerate each other and this has hurt the feelings of the Chinese community, he said.

Both sides have no intention to co-operate... The problem seems difficult to be resolved, said Mahathir when asked on whether he will intervene in the crisis.

If they care about the interests of the Chinese community, then they should put aside their personal interests, he stressed.

Citing the recently released MCA membership list as an example, Mahathir said he had asked for one faction to display the list for scrutiny for an extended period instead of the previous five days.

Eventually, Team A put up the list for 21 days but the other team complained that the duration was not enough. This puts me in a very difficult position. They should accept the decision with an open heart, he said.

MCA has been divided into two camps — Team A led by party president Dr Ling Liong Sik and Team B led by his deputy Lim Ah Lek — since the party took over two Chinese dailies last May.

Ling and Lim have reportedly met with Mahathir and his deputy Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on several occasions to report about party affairs, primarily on the dispute over phantom members within MCA.

The party election will commence at branch level at end of this month, followed by division level in April, and state, May. The central leadership will be chosen at the partys annual general assembly scheduled on June 29.

Political pundits believe that Ling will be challenged by a leader from Team B for the party presidency.