As the MCA turmoil continues to boil, president Ong Tee Keat has been struck with another setback in the form of the sudden resignation of his political secretary Simon Lim.

lim seng chai Contacted today, Lim ( left ) said he resigned due to "personal commitments" and the resignation letter was submitted yesterday. His resignation would take effect on Dec 1.

Lim, 49, did not reveal his next immediate plans but said he might rejoin the legal practice.

When asked, Lim said his working relationship with Ong was "okay" and denied rumours that his resignation was due to a rift with the party president.

"No lah . No such thing," he told Malaysiakini .

The timing and lack of details from Lim has sparked speculations that his resignation was caused by recent events in the party.

Appointed by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in April based on Ong's recommendation, Lim had become the latter's key spokesperson.

Lim defended Ong

Lim had aggressively defended Ong though public statements in the aftermath of the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) audit report release.

azlan He was also a key figure in defending Ong against accusations that he had used Bintulu MP and tycoon Tiong King Sing's private jets for free.

But recently, Ong had his credibility rocked by the Oct 10 extraordinary general meeting results, which had passed a vote of no-confidence against him.

Despite promising to step down even if he had lost by "one vote", Ong held on to his post and thus disgruntled members are complaining that the party president cannot be held to his word.

Ong courted further controversy this week by axing nine detractors from the party's presidential council, a move which his detractors claim had created a council of ‘yes men'.