MCA president Ling Liong Sik's decision to quit as transport minister should not be a "political tactic" to win public sympathy, said an opposition leader in an immediate reaction to the shock resignation.

Democratic Action Party secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock demanded a public explanation from Ling for stepping down as minister, which was announced in a surprise press statement by MCA deputy president Lim Ah Lek this afternoon.

According to Kerk, as the transport minister was appointed by the prime minister, he said Ling should first inform Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad about his decision.

However, the opposition leader conceded that Ling's resignation is "not an opposition victory".

"It has nothing to do with the opposition's criticisms of Ling's incompetence as transport minister," Kerk lamented.

"It is a result of MCA's internal crisis," he said, adding that Ling had "no choice" but to sacrifice his own position to overcome the discontent among the MCA grassroots.

"Ling has come to 'the end of the road'," declared Kerk.

Meanwhile, Chew Mei Fun, MCA MP for Petaling Jaya Utara, expressed surprised when told about Ling's resignation.

"Whatever the problems, the best solution is for him (Ling) to stay on as a minister," she said.

However, Chew had no comment when malaysiakini asked if the current development was a ploy by Ling to involve Mahathir in MCA's internal squabbling.

Political commentator James Wong Wing On said that Ling's resignation is merely to test his popularity among the MCA grassroots in the face of a challenge from his deputy, Lim Ah Lek.

"It is a message sent to the grassroots that Lim is forcing him (Ling) to resign, it could be a political gimmick," said Wong, who is a senior columnist with Sin Chew Jit Poh .

Wong added that it is uncertain whether Mahathir as chairman of Barisan Nasional, of which MCA is a major partner, will accept Ling's resignation.

He explained that BN's victory during last general election heavily depended on the Chinese votes through MCA.

"Umno is still in trouble, especially if it cannot regain its support in the coming years. It will not be in Umno's interest to have a divided MCA," he said.