MCA vice-president Chan Kong Choy, caught in a minor controversy in conjunction with his party president Dr Ling Liong Sik's recent announcement to resign the transport minister's post, paid a surprise visit to Australia to meet Ling on Wednesday.

The short visit - with Chan already back in Kuala Lumpur yesterday - led to much speculation on the objective - was it on his (Chan's) own behalf or carrying out a mission for deputy chief Lim Ah Lek with whom Chan is closely aligned in the recent standoff with Ling.

Nanyang Siang Pau today reported about Chan's meeting with Ling in Perth, but no party officials would comment on what transpired. However, one MCA source told malaysiakini today what was certain is that Chan did not go all the way to Australia to reiterate a call to change his (Ling's) decision of wishing to resign.

"This appeal (by Chan to Ling to reconsider the decision) was already well communicated and publicised soon after the saga started, so it doesn't make sense for one to fly all the way to say the same thing," he added.

The source did not say what "new" things could have cropped up but he did not rule out they (Chan and Ling) could have a new development to discuss.

Ling left for two weeks' holiday in Perth last Saturday, accompanied by his wife and son Hee Leong, whose business problems were speculated by certain quarters to have a bearing on his father's "sudden surprise" decision but denied by Ling at a press conference ("[#1] 'Evil' to tie resignation with fugitive tycoon, says MCA chief[/#] ", May 24)

Ling's expressed wish to resign the Cabinet post was announced on May 22 ("[#2] MCA president resigns Cabinet position[/#] ") by deputy president Lim Ah Lek, officially stating that it was the right time for Ling to go, after serving 14 years as transport minister. (However, Ling said he would retain the party president's post.)

But on another occasion, Ling also said his resignation would enable Chan to be promoted from his present deputy finance minister's position. This caused a vehement protest from Chan, telling a press conference he never did ask Ling to resign to make way for him (Chan) to fill the vacancy and neither would he accept such a vacancy.

Attempts by malaysiakini to contact Chan for comment were not successful

However, an observer of MCA politics said it was likely that Chan was summoned by his party president to discuss the ministerial vacancy should Ling confirm his decision to resign.

Senior vice-president Chua Jui Meng, who has been acting as transport minister since Monday, is likely to then stay on holding the transport portfolio permanently, leaving his current health portfolio to be filled possibly by Chan.

The MCA source said if Ling confirms his resignation as transport minister following the leave, it is expected he would follow also with giving up the MCA presidency soon after.

"If this takes place, deputy Lim (Ah Lek) will automatically go up as president as provided for in the party constitution," said the source, adding that this would lead to a realignment of power within MCA ("[#3] Realignment as Ling goes Down Under[/#] ", June 1)

"The important signal from Ling's resignation from the government post would be that he wishes to retire from politics as there has been no similar precedent for an MCA president resigning his ministership remaining long as MCA president," said the source.

This perception by party members would mean that they, especially those in the MCA central committee now comprising 44 members, would re-position themselves behind a new leadership for the future, he added.