MCA members have asked their president Dr Ling Liong Sik to state the "real reason" behind his resignation from the transport minister's post, MP for Bentong Liow Tiong Lai told malaysiakini today.

He said the members have expressed doubt about Ling's public statement that it was party problems that caused him to offer to resign to make way for Chan Kong Choy, an MCA vice-president who is aligned with deputy president Lim Ah Lek.

"The reason given by Ling is not valid," he said in reference to Ling's remark.

He stated that after the explanation made by Chan at a press conference yesterday, the MCA members are intelligent enough to appreciate the situation that Chan and Lim are in.

However, he felt that the MCA chief should come out with an explanation to clear the members' doubts.

According to Chan, he has never asked for anyone's resignation to make way for him to become a full minister. He also said that he was shocked and cannot accept that Ling had cited as a reason to resign to vacate the post of transport minister to him (Chan).

Liow, who was former political secretary to Lim Ah Lek before contesting the Bentong seat in the November general elections, said he did not wish to comment on a late news report by Bernama yesterday that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had cited Ling's family affairs as one of the reasons for the resignation offer.

When asked by reporters whether Ling's decision to quit the post was due to people talking about his personal and family affairs, Mahathir said, "Family matters ... he felt uneasy about people saying all sorts of things about him."

Speculation is rife that Ling was asked to quit by Mahathir because of the impending return of his son's former business partner.

Soh's arrest, or possibly "voluntary surrender", following a warrant of arrest issued last year was purported to have a bearing on his one-time business associate, Ling Hee Leong, the eldest son of the MCA chief.

Hee Leong made headlines as the youngest billionaire at aged 27 years when he gained control of four KLSE listed companies. ("[#1] MCA chief owes his Waterloo to junior[/#] ", May 22)

Liow stressed that party leaders will try their best to retain Ling as his resignation is not at the "appropriate time" and Ling should withdraw his decision after the two weeks' leave.

Ling announced yesterday that he is taking a short break to mull over whether he should proceed with his resignation.

However, Liow stressed that Ling should withdraw his statement that his resignation was to make way for Chan to have a minister's post.

Nanyang Siang Pau today reported Lim Ah Lek as saying that Ling should withdraw the statement "of resigning to make way for Chan", as he stressed that Chan has never asked for the minister's post.

Furthermore, Ling's statement is "unfair to Chan", Lim was quoted by Nanyang .