Even though MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik has decided to stay on as transport minister, many MCA members are not happy with a lack of explanation on his initial "resignation announcement" on May 22 ("[#1] MCA chief resigns Cabinet position[/#] ").

According to an active politician in the party, the MCA ministers, state assemblymen and state committees who had come forward to open show support for their party chief did so because they are "Ling's men and too much political risk" is at stake if they were to be absent from any public demonstrations of support.

However, according to feedback he had received over the past two weeks, two thirds of the grassroots who remain quiet are not necessary in agreement with Ling's actions, starting with his "surprise" wish to resign relayed by deputy president Lim Ah Lek and the "retraction" announced at a press conference at Wisma MCA yesterday ("[#2] Ling says he will stay[/#] ", June 6)..

"How many divisions (MCA has 165 divisions) and branches (over 3,000) have shown their support for Ling? Not all accept Ling's action," he pointed out.

"Ling should have explained to the members and the public as a responsible leader," he lamented.

He stated that even at next week's MCA general assembly, the members do not have any opportunity to express questions and their doubts to the president as the representatives and the agenda of the assembly are strongly controlled by the Ling's faction.

A source close to MCA leaders told malaysiakini that more than 10 of the central committee members were absent from the press conference and short briefing called by Ling yesterday, as they knew that Ling "has no sincerity to discuss or explain his 'resignation' to the CC".

"Some of the CC members by being absent showed that they still have their own principles," the active MCA politician said.

After the Ling's "resignation" episode, it is expected that the rift between Ling and MCA deputy president Lim Ah Lek will worsen and their differences will be sharpened, claimed the politician.

He said though Ling had won this "first round", but the image and integrity of MCA has been destroyed due to Ling's "childish" political play.

He stated that Ling's victory is only temporary as nobody can really predict the reactions of the grassroots yet.

At the same time, he also pointed out that even vice-president Chan Kong Choy, the deputy minister caught in the Ling-Lim fight, had been taken by surprise and could not express his bitterness openly.

The source noted that the way another vice-president Ong Ka Ting campaigned strongly for Ling showed that Ong is very strong in "psychology strategy".

During the 1996 party elections, Ling had proposed an internal deal that Chan Kong Choy would be given priority consideration for an appointment as a full minister the following general elections, along with Ong Ka Ting.

And under the same deal, Chan will be upgraded to deputy president and Ong as secretary general, but things seemed to have changed drastically with recent MCA politics. ("[#3] Ling to buy 'time' to work deal with rival camp[/#] ", June 5)

However, according to political commentator Eng Keng Sia, the initial pledge by Ling was not kept after last November's general elections.

"Ling will now have to be more cautious this time and he will be more direct in preparing the plan for his successor," he said.

After the general election, Ling and Lim had some internal discussion, a source close to MCA said that Ling had suggested a new proposal to Lim Ah Lek: that both of them resign together, with Ong Ka Ting promoted as the president while Chan Kong Choy be No. 2.

It was said that Ling had raised the same proposal in Perth when Chan flew there for a short visit, apparently representing Lim's faction.

Eng stated that Lim is unlikely to accept the proposals.

"But Lim has lost this round, it seems that he has no power to swiftly control the situation," he said.

Nanyang Siang Pau reported today that Ling and Lim will stay as president and deputy president respectively until 2002, when party elections will be held.

Eng said that at the forthcoming MCA general assembly starting on June 17, Ling, being an experienced politician, would have prepared an explanation on his "resignation" episode.

"For the moment, both factions will stop their fight to show that they are united," he said.

A source close to MCA also stated that Ling has to urgently work out the "successor" deal with Lim to protect his (Ling's) interests after he steps down as MCA president, possibly in 2002.