MCA secretary-general Dr Ting Chew Peh said the party was always in an "embarassing" and "helpless" situation when it comes to balancing the interests of Umno and the Chinese Malaysian community.

According to reports in Chinese newspapers today, Ting ( photo ) described MCA's position in the country's politics as "walking a tightrope to please both Umno and the Chinese community".

"MCA is always overwhelmed by this dilemma and helplessness. It has to be constantly alert and watch out for any danger.

"This is an embarrassing and pitiful situation, especially during critical times when we have to make decisions which are bound to please o­ne side but offend the other," Nanyang Siang Pau quoted him as saying.

Yes-men to outsiders

He said the political reality of Malaysia was that "MCA cannot afford to lose Umno but Umno can afford to lose MCA".

Thus, taking this reality to their own advantage, "a small group of MCA leaders would emerge from time to time to be the yes-men and succumb to the will of outsiders in order to gain authority and influence internal party affairs".

While addressing the 54th MCA anniversary dinner in Johor o­n Sunday, Ting went o­n to urge party members to preserve the image of the party and stop those "obsessed with personal gain and fame from selling out the dignity of MCA".

Quoted by Sin Chew Daily , he said, "MCA has gone through several power struggles and each resulted in the weakening of the party. We have to take this as a lesson and avoid any internal squabble or split."

He was referring to the year-long, open bickering between two feuding factions - Team A led by president Dr Ling Liong Sik ( left ) and Team B led by his deputy Lim Ah Lek ( right ) - which was sparked off by Ling's proposal to take over two Chinese newspapers in May 2001.

The open war abated somewhat when last April, just three months before the MCA triennial election, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad stepped in with a peace plan.

The plan ruled that, among others, all party leaders would remain in their posts while the party poll was put o­n hold indefinitely until further notice.

The pro-Team A MCA central committee however proceeded with the party election "with no contest", saying that this was not against the peace plan.

Though both sides repeatedly thanked Mahathir for the peace plan, Team A leaders have regularly accused Team B of inviting "outsider intervention" into party affairs.

Team B in turn claimed the other side had breached the plan.

Peace plan failed

Meanwhile, Ting said yesterday that the peace plan has failed to resolve the power struggle within MCA.

"The plan has put o­n hold the o­ngoing fight then but it did not resolve the underlying contradictions and conflict," he said.

He said a smooth leadership transition is essential to ensure the success of MCA in the long run.

"If those who should step down cling o­n to power and the younger generation is too eager to take over, if those should not go are forced to leave while those who promised to leave now do the opposite; the party will be in chaos and suffer a loss of credibility," said the leader, who is aligned to Team A.

He said the top priority of MCA is to improve the discipline among its members.

"We cannot let the irresponsible minority disregard the party constitution and tarnish our image."