MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik is not capable of fulfilling his promise of making party vice-president Chan Kong Choy a full minister since another senior vice-president Chua Jui Meng is reluctant to step down as Health Minister, said a source close to the party today.

"As Ling is unable to fulfill his word given to his deputy Lim Ah Lek, both Lim and Ling will turn from being friends to foes," the source told malaysiakini .

Today, Chua was quoted by Nanyang Siang Pau as saying that no one can determine his future in the cabinet except the prime minister. "As cabinet posts are decided by Dr Mahathir Mohamad, it is also within his power to retain or to dismiss anyone," he added.

In the battle of succession to the top MCA leadership, Lim's protege Chan is pitted against Ling's, Ong Ka Ting ( photo ), who is another vice-president holding full cabinet minister's in charge of housing and local government.

Recently, it is being speculated that there would be a cabinet reshuffle involving an MCA minister, and Chua - who is not aligned to either camp - is said to be replaced by Chan.

However, the source stressed that the succession talks acknowledged to have taken place between Ling and Lim did not touch on Chua's position in the cabinet.

"The rumours of Chua's ( photo ) resignation were created by Ling as a way out to fulfill Ling's promise," said the source.

Yesterday, malaysiakini reported that rumours of Lim putting pressure on Ling to resign as party president were created to force Lim to quit before the party's elections scheduled in 2002 ([#1] Rumours in MCA designed to force deputy chief to quit, says oberver [/#], Feb 13).

Another Chinese political commentator told malaysiakini that before the cabinet reshuffle preceding the Chinese New Year, MCA chief Ling had negotiated with Chua twice.

"Ling wanted him to withdraw from the cabinet on health grounds, and let Chan to replace him. However, the negotiations failed," said the source.

Killing two birds

At the same time, Chan was reported in another newspaper to have said that he saw no reason why Chua should not stay in office, and stressed that he knows nothing about the the rumours that he (Chan) will replace Chua as minister.

The source pointed out that Ling's statement that the talks with Lim last week only focused on the deputy chief's position, thus confirming that he wanted Lim to quit before him.

"Ling wants Chan ( photo ) to replace Lim in MCA and also to replace Chua in cabinet, which is killing two birds with one stone," the source said.

The outcome in this intense battle between the two top party leaders will determine which faction will control the party in the near future.

The source close to MCA reiterated that the succession talks between Ling and his deputy Lim did not touch on the resignation of Ling at all.

"Making public the contents of the succession talks is the best way to clear the air on who is the liar, since the talks have been recorded in black and white," said the source.

The Sun today carried a report with Lim asking Ling to tell MCA members and the Chinese community the truth and not hide behind the cloak of "privileged information".

"This involves my personal integrity, whether I'm lying ... I was accused of being unreasonable for asking my party president to step down," Lim said.

Contradictions

The Star reported today that Ling said the post of deputy president was the only issue being discussed at the talks now.

"The statement only showed Ling's own contradiction; if they only talked about the deputy chief's post, how could it be related to Lim asking him (Ling) to resign?"said the source.

He stated that during Ling's "resignation" episode last year, Lim had even gone to see the prime minister to "save" Ling's career, so it is unlikely Lim will pressure Ling to resign.

The source pointed out that Lim had rebuked Ling as a "liar" last year after Ling failed to allocate a cabinet post promised to Chan, Lim's choice as potential successor to the top party post.

"Lim will insist on Ling to fulfill what he had promised, and he will stay on till next year (when party elections are scheduled)," said the source.