MCA Youth chairperson Ong Tee Keat today said the party's succession plan must reflect the current hierarchy in that the deputy must be allowed to assume the top post once it falls vacant.

"The hierarchy was very clear even before the peace plan was introduced. If there are any vacancies or resignation (of the president), then in accordance with the constitution, the deputy president should move up," he said.

"This should be respected. I can't just say 'I am not close with that man, so I don't want him' (as successor). If there is any vacancy, the second person should replace (the out-going person) immediately."

He was asked to comment on deputy president Lim Ah Lek's (photo) remark yesterday that president Dr Ling Liong Sik could step down any time despite Ling's assertion that he could only do this after resolving succession issues.

He cited the precedent set in 1986 when president Tan Koon Swan resigned. As deputy then, Ling took over the post without dispute and has been holding it up to today.

Ong, also a party vice-president, was speaking to reporters after chairing the second Youth wing management and co-ordination committee meeting at MCA headquarters. He is widely known to be loyal to Team B, the dissident faction in MCA.

However, he refused to comment on a rumour that Team A would call for a vote of no confidence against Lim if he were to become president before 2005, in order to prompt immediate elections.