Former MCA deputy president Lim Ah Lek has decided not to withdraw as a life member and quit the party despite his earlier intention to do so.

Party sources told Bernama that Lim changed his mind following an appeal by four veteran MCA leaders including two former presidents - Ong Ka Ting and Tan Koon Swan - as well as current deputy president Liow Tiong Lai and former central committee (CC) member Wong Mook Leong during a meeting this morning.

"After meeting them this morning, Tan Sri decided not to proceed with his intention to submit the letter, after taking into consideration the appeal made by the four leaders as well as taking into account the negative impact of such an action towards the party," the source said.

The four leaders had argued that if Lim continued with his action to quit, it might cause a mass exodus of party members and leaders that would eventually affect the Barisan Nasional (BN) in the upcoming Hulu Selangor parliamentary by-election.

It is understood that in the resignation letter he had drafted, Lim had stated his intention to quit the party following the election of the new MCA president, Chua Soi Lek, at MCA's polls on Sunday.

Chua defeated incumbent president Ong Tee Keat and former party president Ong Ka Ting in a three-cornered contest for presidency.

Lim explained that even though he had been loyal to the party for the past 42 years, the moral values inculcated upon him from the time of his parents forbade him from associating with the party under the new circumstances.

He said although he could forgive and would not raise the sex scandal DVD involving Chua, the Internet would not allow the people to forget about it as its existence was beyond anybody's control.

Lim said he felt strongly that the reputation of the MCA had been damaged for having a president who was involved in such a scandal. - Bernama