MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik ( left ) said today that it was the central committee and not he, who can decide whether deputy president Lim Ah Lek ( right ) should be re-appointed as the chairperson of the party disciplinary committee for another term.

"The central committee will have to consider in the past years, has it (disciplinary committee) done a very good job or a lousy one.

"They will decide tomorrow. I am only one member of the committee. Let them decide what to do. That's their responsibility," said Ling during a press conference at his office in Putrajaya.

However, the MCA president reminded CC members to bear in mind the larger interest of the party when they decide on the choice of candidates for the disciplinary committee.

"[Those who did not do well] should not be considered... A CC member must not forget the spirit of the peace plan in choosing the disciplinary committee members, he must look at whether the candidates can continue to contribute to the progress of the party," he said.

Ling, who is also transport minister, said the party constitution outlined that his prerogative was to appoint people to positions such as state chairpersons and eight CC members.

He added that this list was complete and there will be new faces among the appointed office-bearers since several incumbents, including Melaka state chief Gan Boon Leong, have decided to retire.

Accusations traded

The MCA chief was responding to his deputy-cum-rival's call to abide by the peace plan which was drawn up to settle the intra-party strife which erupted last May.

Lim's statement came amid speculation that the CC may decide to drop him from the disciplinary committee tomorrow.

The disciplinary committee is traditionally helmed by the deputy president but at the MCA annual general assembly in July, the president's supporters questioned the effectiveness of the committee under Lim's leadership.

Lim was accused of failing to uphold discipline within the party but his supporters claimed that it was the Ling-dominated top leadership which had curbed the power and rights of the committee.

The top two leaders' underlying differences surfaced when the party disregarded widespread opposition to its takeover of two Chinese dailies, resulting in two openly opposing factions within the party Team A and Team B led by each leader.

PM's peace plan

When tensions between the two mounted in the run-up to the triennial party election in July, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad decided to end the fray and presented them with a peace plan, which among others, stipulated that the status quo for all party posts be maintained.

Subsequently, all party leaders including the president, deputy president, six vice-presidents, and 25 incumbent CC members were 're-elected' for another three-year term.

Of the four other members in the disciplinary committee, two vice-president Chua Jui Meng and Youth chief Ong Tee Keat are aligned to Team B.

The other two vice-president Dr Fong Chan Onn and Wanita chief Dr Ng Yen Yen are aligned to the president's Team A.

In an unrelated matter, Ling thanked outgoing MCA Malacca state chief Gan for his good leadership all these years.

"He had served for very long and it is very noble of him to voluntarily decide to call it a day and let the younger ones take over," said Ling.

The MCA strongman in Melaka who started his political career in 1971, was also a renowned body-builder who bagged the Mr Malaysia and Mr Asia titles in the 1960s.