A state-level MCA leader today said that party president Dr Ling Liong Sik had indeed submitted his resignation letter to the party secretary-general recently.

Federal Territory Youth chief Hang Chin Pheng was quoted by the New Straits Times o­nline as saying that he was informed about the matter by Ling himself.

Malaysiakini

yesterday reported that Ling and his bitter rival and deputy, Lim Ah Lek, had both tendered their resignation letters to party secretary-general Dr Ting Chew Peh o­n Monday.

Quoting informed sources, malaysiakini reported that the resignation of both leaders was in accordance with the final phase of the peace plan brokered by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad last April.

Hang and about 100 other party leaders from Federal Territory and Pahang had visited Ling in his office earlier today, seeking to convince him not to relinquish his party post which he had held for 17 years.

Hang said that during the meeting, Ling confirmed submitting the quit letter to secretary-general Ting but had not said when he did so.

The successors

According to the report, Ling, who is also transport minister, had refused to comment o­n his resignation when approached after his meeting with the state leaders.

Hang was also quoted as saying that Ling mentioned party vice-presidents o­ng Ka Ting and Chan Kong Choy when asked about his successors.

Ling was also accosted by Perak state leaders yesterday, who also came with the intention of pledging their support for the president.

After the meeting, Perak state chief o­ng Ka Chuan had said that Ling had hinted that he would probably resign in the next few days.

Talks of a possible changeover in the party leadership have been rife since last week and intensified when Ting issued a sudden notice for the party's central committee to meet o­n Friday.