"I have retired and that fact will not change," said former MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik today when commenting on a news report that he was interfering in the party's upcoming polls.

The Chinese-language Oriental Daily News , in a front-page report yesterday, claimed that Ling was actively campaigning for his sons and party secretary-general Ting Chew Peh.

Denying he still has a hand in politics, he said: "I have learnt from (former MCA presidents) Lee San Choon and Tan Koon Swan. When I became president, they did not interfere, so I have learnt a good lesson. I will not interfere."

Ling was speaking to reporters after attending a memorandum of understanding signing event at University Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) in Kuala Lumpur.

Asked what he thought about the report, he said it was 'mischievous and not good journalism'.

Ling, who stepped down in 2003, also refused to comment or speculate on the MCA presidential elections, which will see vice-president Chua Jui Meng going for broke against incumbent Ong Ka Ting.

"As I said, I am retired from politics, I do not comment anymore on politics," he said.

The Oriental Daily report claimed that Ling was trying to garner support for his sons Hee Leong and Hee Keat - who are contesting in the August polls - from his former supporters and MCA veterans through 'golf games'.

Hee Leong ( photo ) had recently won the Youth chief post in Perak's Kuala Kangsar division and the state's Youth vice-chief. He is vying for deputy Youth chief at the national level.

Younger brother Hee Keat is currently Segambut Youth chief in Kuala Lumpur.

Ling was also said to have endorsed Ting to contest against incumbent deputy president Chan Kong Choy when attending a function last month in Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

The daily also claimed that he was actively rallying support for three vice-presidents of his choice - incumbent Dr Chua Soi Lek (Johor liaison committee chairperson), Donald Lim Siang Chai (Selangor liaison committee deputy chairperson) and Tan Chai Ho (Federal Territory liaison committee chairperson).

When met at Parliament today, Donald Lim refuted the report while all other party leaders, including Ka Ting and Chan, refused to comment.

Fallout with protege

The report further claimed that Ling had a fall out with his protege and current president Ka Ting, because he refused to 'openly' give his blessing for the former's sons to contest in the polls.

Another reason, added the daily, was because Ling had ignored Ka Ting's suggestion to use Utar as the main platform to launch MCA's 'lifelong learning programme'.

Ka Ting has been eagerly advocating the programme to stamp his mark as the new MCA helmsman and step out of Ling's shadow.

However, Ling, who has full control of Utar, does not tolerate interferences from the party.

According to an observer, Utar - which is an MCA project - is not participating in the lifelong learning programme as closely as it should be while other private institutions have shown greater interest.

The lifelong learning campaign is a MCA initiative aimed at improving the knowledge skills and competency of Malaysians.

Tactical alliance

Meanwhile, a senior journalist who has been closely following the MCA polls said it is an open secret that Ling, in the bid to preserve his influence and family interest, does not want to see a strong president in the party.

"As such, it is highly possible that Ling might back someone who can reduce the standing of Ka Ting, If Jui Meng can gain around one-third of the votes from over 2,300 party representatives, Ka Ting's position will be seriously undermined.

"Ling is also trying to become the kingmaker in the eight-cornered fight for the vice-president posts," said the journalist, who declined to be named.

It is estimated that Ling control over 10 to 20 percent of the delegates, which translates to between 230 or 480 votes and this becomes crucial in a close fight.

"Under such a circumstance, we may see a non-surprising tactical alliance being formed between those formerly from Team A and Team B, meaning a tacit pact between Jui Meng and Ting to contest against the incumbent president and deputy president," added the journalist.

MCA split into the two camps - Team A - led by Ling - and Team B - led by former deputy president Lim Ah Lek - after the party took over two Chinese dailies in 2001.

Ka Ting and Ting were aligned to Team A while Jui Meng and Chan (current deputy president) were in Team B.