MCA president Ling Liong Sik will come back from Perth tonight and possibly announce soon that he will stay on as transport minister.

According to a MCA headquarters source, Ling will arrive at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at about 9.30pm tonight and it is expected that many party leaders will be there to greet him.

A report of Sin Chew Jit Poh today confirmed that Ling is rushing back to Malaysia before Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad heads to Japan on Wednesday to inform the prime minister about his (Ling's) final decision.

Nanyang Siang Pau also reported on Ling cutting short his holiday in Perth and returning tonight.

Both reports quoted unidentified sources as saying that it is very likely that Ling will change his decision about his quitting as transport minister.

However, a source close to the MCA leaders hinted that Ling might only stay in the Cabinet for a "limited period", to enable Ling to pick a "successor" to avoid internal fighting.

The source added that several MCA ministers and deputy ministers who last week flew to visit Ling in Perth had discussed a "new alignment" in MCA party politics for the future and not mainly about "persuading" Ling to withdraw his decision to quit as transport minister.

As to whether Mahathir would "accept" Ling's "final" decision to stay on as transport minister, the source said that this was likely, as Mahathir would give "face" to Ling to later resign his minister's post "with honour".