MCA leader Dr Ling Liong Sik should resign from his post as he has lost the support from the Chinese community, said the former political secretary of Malaysia's first prime minister.

Yap Chin Kwee, 67, in an exclusive commentary he wrote for malaysiakini today, said that Ling should not "hang on a day longer than necessary".

"Since a lot of ill-will and hostility have been created and directed towards Dr Ling in the past few weeks or months, it would appear that his position as MCA chief and Chinese leader in Malaysia becomes a bit untenable."

Ling, who has been leader of the ruling Barisan Nasional's second biggest party for 15 years, has faced mounting criticisms over his failure to address issues involving the Chinese community.

He is currently embroiled in a controversy involving his party's takeover of two major Chinese dailies, widely opposed by those who fear that MCA would turn the newspapers into government's mouthpieces.

Yap lamented that MCA was imprudent in the takeover of Nanyang Press Holdings, publisher of Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press .

"In the past, the MCA leadership had always acted in a measured and wise manner. Today, the MCA leadership appears to adopt a 'gung-ho' policy and a defiant attitude of 'come what may'. Is this a death wish?" he asked.

He added that Malaysia needs a diversity of newpapers to provide the people with different views on matters of public interests and concerns. This will help expose the inadequacies in the government system and promote an incorruptible and independent judiciary, he said.

Yap, who is life member of MCA, also urged Ling to 'take a useful lesson' from former prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman.

"He (Ling) should not feel ashamed if he has to make a similar move or exit, with honour, respect and love," he said.

'Polite hostility'

According to Yap, his former boss Tunku Abdul Rahman met with "polite hostility" from the Umno leadership and rank-and-file members after the May 13, 1969 racial riots. The riots were blamed on Abdul Rahman's inability to overcome widespread poverty in the Malay community, which Umno represents.

Eventually, Abdul Rahman resigned and was replaced by Tun Abdul Razak in September 1970.

Yap also called upon Ling, upon his resignation, to be gracious enough to make peace with those who had opposed him and other Chinese bodies outside MCA which have criticised his leadership.

"Don't run away with the idea that you don't need Chinese support," he warned.

"If MCA does not look after and serve the Chinese community as a whole, including those in opposition, then the future of the party is very bleak and doomed to die and go into political oblivion."

Yap, who was a New Straits Times journalist before serving under the Tunku between 1963 to 1970, said he was distressed by the recent infighting within MCA and the Chinese community.

Yap is the first Chinese to be appointed a prime minister's political secretary. Last month, current Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said he would appoint two Chinese advisors to the Prime Minister's Office.