Perak MCA leaders aligned to Team B of the party will write to the presidential council seeking approval to raise money for party president and Transport Minister Dr Ling Liong Sik as he faces allegations of graft and abuse of power.

Spokesperson for the group, Dr Yap Yit Thong, said they were concerned that the image of the party had "reached a new low" following the latest police report lodged against Ling - who leads Team A of the party - by businessman Soh Chee Wen last week.

"If the party president agrees with our proposal, we can start the fund-raising activities immediately by organising dinners," Yap said when contacted.

"We will try to do our best to help him and the party. But there is a precondition he must promise that the money will o­nly be used for his legal action," he said.

Yap added that several state leaders were willing to shave their heads to raise money for Ling's legal fees.

"We are ready. All we need now is the blessing of Ling and the presidential council," said the former member of Parliament for Lumut who is now an MCA state liaison committee member.

The party split openly into two camps in May 2001 following the controversial takeover of two Chinese newspapers. Team B is led by deputy president Lim Ah Lek.

Double standards

Yesterday, more than 10 pro-Team B Perak MCA leaders called a press conference, urging Ling to clear his name over allegations of misconduct.

They included Yap, Gopeng division vice-chairperson and state assembly member for Teja Dr Ho Wai Cheong; Batu Gajah division chief and state assembly member for Pasir Pinji Chan Kam; and Kampar division vice-chairperson and state assembly member for Malim Nawar Lee Chee Leong.

They said Ling would be practising double standards if he did not refer Soh, an MCA life member, to the disciplinary committee for further action.

Soh had lodged a police report last Friday alleging that Ling had used his office at the Transport Ministry to negotiate a personal business deal with an Austrian investor in 1997, during which Ling was said to have offered confidential road maps in exchange for self-interest deals.

The Austrian investor, Franz Christoph Heldwein, had in late January lodged a police report against Ling, his son Hee Leong and Soh claiming that the trio owed him RM100 million after he sold a controlling stake in a listed company cheap to Ling and Hee Leong, with Soh as the middleman.

Heldwein had said the shares were sold at 30 percent below market price as Ling had promised assistance, including the supply of road maps, to help the businessman to market his vehicle tracking device and black boxes for commercial vehicles in Malaysia.

Serious offence

Yap said many MCA leaders and members could not understand why Youth chief o­ng Tee Keat ( photo ) was referred for disciplinary action "in such a hurry" whereas not action has been taken against Soh.

"Soh's offence is no less serious because he has repeatedly alleged for months that the party president was guilty of various wrongdoings," he said.

Ong, who is also aligned to Team B, attended the first disciplinary hearing o­n complaints against him this morning.

The outspoken Youth chief recently claimed that the party was infiltrated by triads. This prompted the pro-Ling presidential council to initiate disciplinary action against him two weeks ago o­n the grounds that he had tarnished the image of the MCA and its leaders.