A new generation of politicians is beginning to take over Malaysia's ruling political parties ahead of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's retirement and impending general elections.

The Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), the second largest party in the National Front coalition, underwent a major shake-up last week with its top two rival leaders resigning to end a long-standing power struggle.

Transport Minister and MCA president Ling Liong Sik, 60, stepped down after 17 years at the helm to make way for o­ng Ka Ting, 47, while party deputy Lim Ah Lek, 61, was replaced by Chan Kong Choy, 48.

The leadership changes in the MCA follow the anointment of Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, 63, as political heir to the 77-year-old Mahathir, who bows out in October after 22 years in power.

Abdullah will take over the helm of the United Malays National Organisation (Umno), the backbone of the National Front coalition of racially-based parties.

New political landscape

The change of guards in the two biggest parties in the coalition is expected to usher in a new political landscape in o­ne of Southeast Asia's fastest developing economies.

Analysts say Mahathir's peers still holding o­n to power in other parties in the coalition may come under pressure to pave the way for younger leaders under Abdullah's administration.

The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), the third pillar of the National Front, has yet to see a leadership change since 1979, with party strongman S.Samy Vellu, 67, still maintaining an iron grip.

In Gerakan, another key party, Lim Keng Yaik, 64, has held the reins for as long as Mahathir.

"With Mahathir and the MCA leaders leaving, it is a signal that there should also be changes in the other component parties where leaders have been in power for too long," said political analyst P.Ramasamy.

But any dramatic changes are unlikely as Abdullah's priority will be to ensure political stability, he said.

"Once Abdullah comes o­n, you can expect a major cabinet reshuffle. A lot of older guards are expected to make way for the younger generation," added a Southeast Asian diplomat.

Test for Pak Lah

Abdullah faces an early test of his popularity in a general election which must be held by late 2004, 14 months after he takes over as premier in a country where an entire generation has known no leader other than Mahathir.

The swift and sudden changes in the MCA leadership are aimed at repairing the party's image among Chinese voters after months of public bickering between rival camps, which is feared to affect the coalition's performance in the polls.

It has also sparked talks of early elections but Mahathir over the weekend ruled out a poll before his retirement, saying his successor would be the o­ne to call the shots.

In the 1999 election, the National Front relied o­n Chinese and ethnic Indian support to retain its two-thirds parliamentary majority after many Malays turned to the opposition Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) following the sacking and arrest of popular deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim in 1998.

New seats

In the forthcoming polls, another 26 new constituencies are expected to be added o­n to the current 193 parliamentary seats following a recent delineation exercise.

Opposition officials say the move has diluted majority Malay votes in some constituencies to fend off the challenge from PAS.

The votes of the Chinese, who make-up about a quarter of Malaysia's 23 million people, remain crucial to the coalition amid a split in the Malay heartland.

But the jury is still out o­n whether the MCA crisis has really ended as both new leaders are aligned to rival camps.

"It's a step forward to improve the MCA's image and standing among the Chinese community but the problem will recur because they are replicating the rivalry," said another diplomat. - AFP