MCA treasurer William Chek's offer to resign the party post has shattered the "surface calm" MCA seems to have been enjoying following president Dr Ling Liong Sik's truce with his deputy Lim Ah Lek since June, according to a highly placed MCA source.

"The veneer of calm belies the layers and layers of power struggle in the party since differences between Ling and Lim broke out into the open before the last party general assembly," the source said.

Commenting on a report by malaysiakini that Chek, 62, was advised by Ling to hold back his resignation at the weekly presidential council yesterday, the source said Chek was insistent that he wanted to resign as soon as possible, possibly within the next few weeks ([#1]MCA treasurer reportedly keen to resign party post[/#], Oct 2).

After serving 12 years as party treasurer, Chek's expressed wish to resign immediately must mean he "does not enjoy serving" in that capacity anymore, the source stressed.

"He could have waited another two to three months, but now with recent 'developments' in the party, the timing (of Chek's resignation) is most appropriate, as obviously he does not care for whatever implications his action would bring about," the source added.

The "developments" he referred to included last Saturday's court decision ordering the return of RM10 million in the Chang Min Thien Education Fund (entrusted to the top MCA leaders to manage) to the Chang family, and the criticism by former MCA chief Lee San Choon that the present MCA leaders have failed to provide direction to the Chinese community and were just focusing on day-to-day affairs ([#2]Former MCA president breaks 16-year silence[/#], Sept 15).

On a Nanyang Siang Pau report today that Chek said he is keen to resign for health reasons, the source told malaysiakini that Chek in fact recently went to Australia for a "cataract" operation, and all indications were that the operation had been very successful.

The latest developments affecting MCA point to the "uneasy truce" between Ling and Lim, the source said, adding that Ling's leadership has led to much division and the "amended" rift publicised by Ling is "just a myth" ([#3]Ling won Round One, but the fight goes on[/#], June 19).

The Chang Min Thien scholarship fund has let down many people, especially the needy students and the Dong Zhong (Chinese education group) to whom MCA had promised financial assistance from the fund, the source added.

"This episode is a bad example and raises the question - how can any potential philanthropist-donor trust any political party anymore to manage a similar scholarship scheme?"

Chek could be made scapegoat

A Chinese political commentator said that Chek's resignation could be to avoid a situation where he could be made a scapegoat for the Chang Min Thien Education Fund "scandal".

"Being the MCA treasurer for past 12 years, somehow Chek bears some of the responsibility (for the fund management); but only former MCA presidents Tan Koon Swan and Lee San Choon, and current president Dr Ling Liong Sik, can offer a better answer," he said.

At the same time, he claimed that the two factions fighting for power is a major reason for Chek wanting to resign as he had indicated that the younger generation disliked the present family-style leadership.

It is learnt that Chek was also "unhappy" with the way some of the MCA members treated MCA central committee member Wong Mook Leong at the last MCA general assembly in mid-June, when Wong was "booed" by Ling's supporters for questioning the real reasons behind Ling's purported resignation as transport minister ([#4]Party veteran 'boo-ed' for querying MCA chief[/#], June 17-18).

He said the supporters of both factions are making efforts to enhance their control of the grassroots to enlarge their power base in preparation of the anticipated contest for top party posts in 2002.

"Both sides are trying to recruit new members but the power brokers are trying to block off any threat from their rival faction," he told malaysiakini .

He pointed out that 10 new branches at Kuala Langat, whose division is close to senior vice-president Chua Jui Meng (who is not strongly aligned to either faction), had their registration recently refused by the party headquarters.

He said it is believed that a similar treatment was meted out to new branches that are friendly towards another vice-president, Chan Kong Choy, who is aligned with the MCA deputy chief.