MCA deputy chief Lim Ah Lek will explain the claim by two party mediators that he had asked president Ling Liong Sik to resign before 2002.

According to reliable sources today, last Saturday's joint statement issued by the mediators to the party's succession talks, deputy secretary general Dr Sak Cheng Lum and treasurer William Chek, told only "half the truth".

Hence, they said, Lim will need to provide an explanation to clear the air among MCA members and the Chinese community on the issue.

On Saturday, Sak and Chek, who mediated the three-month-long succession talks between the party's top two leaders, revealed more details regarding the events which led to the failed negotiations.

The joint statement said that Ling did not set any date for his retirement, but that he would call it a day when "the time is ripe".

The statement also added that at a meeting on Feb 9, Lim had wanted it put in writing that the president would retire before the party's polls next year.

It further said that Ling eventually agreed to include in the succession agreement that he would announce his resignation only after having achieved a number of goals; namely, university status for the MCA-founded Tunku Abdul Rahman College, developing Port Klang into one of the world's top 10 ports and ensuring party unity and stability.

'Lame duck' leader

Because of this, the two mediators said, Lim did not insist on the resignation date of the MCA head be stated in the succession agreement.

The sources also told malaysiakini that it was Ling who said he wanted to resign before 2002 during the negotiations.

"Lim only asked whether Ling wanted to state the resignation date, and Ling said he would become a 'lame duck' if he does so. Lim agreed to this," the sources said.

Malaysiakini has learnt that Lim confronted Sak at the party's weekly presidential meeting last Monday.

Apparently, Lim was unhappy with the briefing by Sak to about 80 central committee members of the MCA Youth and Women wings regarding the succession talks in Ling's Damansara Heights home.

"Lim lambasted Sak at the presidential meeting as he was not invited to the briefing - he wasn't given a chance to defend himself," said the sources.

Striking distance

The sources also added that the succession talks were carried out between the two leaders and the mediators. However, details of the meetings were leaked to the press as though a certain faction was reluctant to see the success of the talks.

"Apparently, those who are out to scuttle the talks are worried that after (MCA vice-president and Lim's protege) Chan Kong Choy is promoted as deputy president, they will lose the battle for president at the party elections next year," said the sources.

Lim, who has expressed his intention to resign time and again from the deputy leader post, is seeking for a guarantee that Chan will be appointed in his place. This will put Chan within striking distance for the top leadership should Ling step down next year.

Meanwhile, according to the sources, the issue of the joint statement was not raised at the presidential meeting held today.

"The members thought that Lim would start a fight, but both Lim and Ling remained quiet today," said the sources, adding that the mood at the meeting was "strange".