Since last November's polls, the relationship of between the two top MCA men, president Ling Liong Sik and deputy president Lim Ah Lek, has taken a turn for the worse over the allocation of the ministerial posts in the Cabinet.

The falling out between Ling and Lim is an open secret in MCA, especially after the party's central committee meeting early last month when one had accused the other of "favouritism" in the appointment of MCA stalwarts to government posts.

A source revealed that Lim had accused Ling for not abiding by an agreement made between them before the general elections.

A sticking point is the position of Serdang MP Yap Pian Hon who lost his vice-president post last year but was vice president for two terms before that. He was never made a minister during his vice-presidency, leading to voices of discontent among some MCA members, well vocalised by Lim.

Ling was grilled over the criteria he used in his appointment to minister posts. According to Ling, one factor for his selection is based on the state the members hailed from. That begs the question then how three of the four MCA ministers be from Johor (Ling himself, Health Minister Chua Jui Meng and Housing and Local Government Minister Ong Ka Ting)?

Ling was also pressured for not demanding for more ministerial posts for MCA after the general elections since the party delivered the crucial Chinese votes to the government coalition.

According to Nanyang Siang Pau , Ling and Lim are at loggerheads mainly over the ministerial quota for Pahang, which is headed by Lim.

It was said that Ling has verbally promised Lim that after the general elections, the ministerial posts allocated to Pahang MCA will not be changed after Lim opted not to re-contest the Bentong parliamentary seat. On account of this "agreement", Lim resigned his Cabinet post, saying he was preparing to retire from politics.

Before Lim resigned, Pahang MCA boasted one minister (Lim himself) and two deputy ministers (vice-president Chan Kong Choy and then MCA Wanita head Teng Gaik Kwan). But after the elections, Pahang MCA only has two deputy ministers, Chan being retained and Dr Ng Yen Yen who had succeeded Teng as MCA Wanita chief.

Pahang MCA has hoped that Chan would be appointed as a minister to replace Lim and Mentakab MP Fu Ah Kiow as a deputy minister. However, after the list of the Cabinet was announced, both Lim and Ling quarreled over the issue. This became "very serious" over the past few weeks, causing Lim to declare he was reconsidering his retirement plans.

Another major issue between the two is the controversy of finding a successor to the MCA chief's post. Chan Kong Choy and Ong Ka Ting have been seen as the possible candidates as party head.

Chan has been picked by Lim Ah Lek as his successor and according to MCA sources, both Lim and Ling have agreed upon it. However, after the general elections, Ling chose Ong Ka Ting and Fong Chan Onn as ministers, leaving Chan empty-handed.