"An evil lie that can only come out from an evil mind" was Transport Minister Dr Ling Liong Sik's stern response to a question from malaysiakini today whether his resignation is connected to fugitive tycoon Soh Chee Wen.

Speculation is rife that Ling was asked to quit by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad because of the impending return of his son's former business partner.

Soh's arrest, or possibly "voluntary surrender", following a warrant of arrest issued last year was purported to have a bearing on his one-time business associate, Ling Hee Leong, the eldest son of the MCA chief.

(Hee Leong made headlines as the youngest billionaire at aged 27 years when he gained control of four KLSE listed companies, "[#1] MCA chief owes his Waterloo to junior[/#] ", May 22).

Ling told reporters today that he will make a final decision on his resignation from the Cabinet post after taking a two-week leave. However, he maintained that he has not "changed his mind" to resign from his ministry for now.

Earlier, Ling met with delegations of leaders from the party's Women's Wing and a group of Kedah state MCA members.

When queried by journalists on his resignation stand, the MCA chief reiterated that he still has not changed his mind although he had received pleas asking him not to quit from various parties such as the Chinese associations, assembly halls and leaders from within the Barisan Nasional itself.

However, he said he accepted the advice to take two-week leave after meeting with Mahathir in Putrajaya this morning.

When asked when his leave will commence, Ling said it will start in "a day or two".

"I haven't decide where I will go, whether it will be in the country or overseas," he said, adding that there is a lot of beautiful places in Malaysia that he has yet to visit.

"Maybe I'll take the opportunity to visit these places, especially those in Sabah, places like the Danum Valley, Kundasang and others," he said.