The impact of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's impending resignation was felt in the MCA when deputy president Lim Ah Lek said today that party leaders including himself should "emulate the fine example" set by the premier.

"He (Mahathir) has set a high standard as he has decided to pass the baton to his deputy (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) when he is at the peak of his career," he said.

"MCA should be thinking about this...we need to groom younger leaders to take over the party and not leave a vacuum [in the leadership] when we leave," he told reporters after officiating the MCA Youth 39th annual general assembly at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Pressed further, he said he would have gone a long time ago if he were the party president, adding that he would even have announced his successor by now.

"But this is not up to me. You (reporters) have to ask the president (Dr Ling Liong Sik)," said Lim.

Be bold

He said the successor would come from the second echelon referring to the MCA vice-presidents Dr Fong Chan Onn, Chua Jui Meng, Ong Ka Ting and Chan Kong Choy who were present with him.

He added that in the best interest of the party, Ling who has been in power for 16 years "must be bold enough to make the right decision".

He also said any central committee member who "commands the majority support could become the party president" but a good leader should not over stay his welcome and "know when he should go".

To another question if he was ready to go, Lim replied, "If it is good for the party, why not? We must be magnanimous because the party does not belong to Lim Ah Lek but to one million MCA members."

He went on to say that Mahathir who had expressed his wish to step down in 16 months has set a good precedent for other component parties within the Barisan Nasional to follow.

"I have served under him for more than 10 years. He groomed (jailed former deputy premier) Anwar Ibrahim for many years who was later found suitable. That's why he delayed his departure," said Lim.

"I expected him to lead the BN into the next general election and win with a bigger majority. That's why his resignation came as a shock to all of us. I was saddened by it," he added.

However, when approached by reporters later, vice-president Ong Ka Ting said he did not want to relate Mahathir's resignation to any possible change in the MCA leadership.

"I don't think we should equate it to anything. His retirement plan is special, he is a great leader and an extraordinary person but we should not expand on PM's plan more than what it is," he said.

No knowledge

Meanwhile, at the end of the Youth AGM this afternoon, Youth chief Ong Tee Keat told another press conference that he had no knowledge of any transition of power within MCA.

Umno's formula of succession as displayed by Mahathir could be something which the MCA could follow but with due consideration for different political cultures, he added.

He stressed that the transition of power within MCA "should be based on the wishes and aspirations of the grassroots and not a handful of leaders."

Ong said he had travelled and listened to many members around the country but added that he could not reveal what he had learnt.

"There are a lot of sensitive things in MCA now and I do not wish to incur the wrath of certain leaders. Though I am aware of the ground mood, I shall reserve my opinions," he added.