DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang has underscored several 'complex motives' leading to the intra Barisan Nasional 'power struggle' surrounding the possible expulsion of the two MCA representatives.

The duo Tan Cheng Liang (Jawi) and Lim Boo Chang (Datuk Keramat) is facing disciplinary action for failing to vote against a motion tabled by the opposition to defer the controversial Penang Outer Ring Road project.

With the uproar over the issue, Lim said that Umno needed to establish the party's political hegemony in Penang where projects and contracts related to Umno cannot be challenged by other BN component parties.

"What makes Porr so bizarre and deplorable is that the major beneficiary is an Umno division leader in the chief minister's (Dr Koh Tsu Koon) own constituency," Lim said in a press statement.

Burden the people

"But there is nothing he (Koh) could do although Porr would only burden the people of Penang with 30 years of escalating toll without providing a medium-term, let alone a long-term solution to the traffic congestion nightmare on the island," he added.

To be completed in 2007 and spanning 17.8km, Porr is a federal government project costing RM1.02bil, making it the country's most expensive highway.

It is estimated to affect more than 150,000 islanders or over 20 per cent of the state's population, including some 200 dwellings 76 private houses, 70 government quarters and some 100 squatter homes temples, shrines and cemeteries.

Despite a huge public outcry, the government seems adamant on proceeding with the project as Umno and Gerakan call for the suspension of the MCA duo who appeared not to support the government's move.

BN discipline

Meanwhile, another motive, Lim said, was the need for Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to establish unquestioned discipline in Umno and BN.

"[He needs to do this] ahead of his succession as prime minister, Umno president and BN chairperson, next October, with all the rife talk that his authority in Umno is far from assured and unchallenged when he takes over the baton of power from Mahathir".

The other reason for the furor over Porr and the two representatives is the opportunity by "powerful elements" within BN and Umno to "humiliate and ease Dr Ling Liong Sik out as MCA president, as he is regarded as a liability to the coalition in the next general election, said Lim.

However, one constant in the many twists and turns in the three week "escalating showdown", added Lim, was that the power struggle between MCA and Gerakan has nothing to do with the interests of the people, party or even Porr.