The MCA presidential council, in emergency meeting today, forced Dato' Seri Ling Liong Sik, to resign as minister of transport. It gave no reasons in the press statement issued at 4.10 pm this afternoon for the resignation, but it was a coup orchestrated by the party deputy president, Dato' Seri Lim Ah Lek. Dr Ling left the meeting half way, after his hand was forced, and his deputy, taking the chair, moved in for the kill. Whatever his reason for wanting to resign -- he cited long tenure in office (14 years) -- he was removed in a palace coup that shocked everyone when it occurred. But differences between them had marred the weekly central committee meetings, often descending into shouting matches. The first public sign of a rift emerged last year when Dato' Seri Lim resigned as human resources minister and from parliament. That now turns out tactical. When Dr Ling sidelined Dato' Seri Lim's supporters from new MCA appointments in the new cabinet and government, and with no MCA cabinet minister from Pahang, Dato' Seri Lim's home state, the battle lines were drawn. But the speed with which Dr Ling fell shocked almost every one. Even if Dato' Seri Lim shed much crocodile tears, at a press conference after the meeting, begging him to continue. But Dato' Ling said he handed in his resignation "last week". The Prime Minister indicated he would accept it.

Clearly, Dr Ling blinked first. His artless statements about MCA appointments to Penang statutory bodies, promptly rebutted by the Penang chief minister, Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon, was the first clear sign he had lost, though few thought so. He had, over his 14 years as MCA prsident, tightened his hold over the party, shooting down any who dared oppose him, and behaved as if he was unbeatable. But MCA rank and file cringed when his then 27-year-old son immured himself in debt to RM1.2 billion. He also has a lucrative contract in Port Klang's Westport, awarded him over more qualified applicants, one in which his father had oversight. His refusal to answer questions about this, nor his son's refusal to contribute handsomely to the Tengku Abdul Rahman College Fund, damaged his standing. His father's departure from the cabinet removes whatever protection he had from his creditors.

Rumours that the Prime Minister's son, Mr Mirzan Mahathir, wanted to settle the libel action with the Star newspaper, which MCA controls, with shares in it to the agreed damages, strengthened Dato' Seri Lim's hands. As if that was not enough, Dato' Ling placing the blame on the Nipah virus scandal in Negri Sembilan on the health minister, Dato' Chua Jui Meng, an Ah Lek ally, was disingenious, especially when the RM40 million collected was not distributed as promised. The cabinet has since ordered the pig farmers compensated for the pigs culled, eight months after it was promised. His inability to wrest the chief ministership from the Gerakan in Penang, by ineptly weaning two state assemblymen and turning this into a confrontation with not just Gerakan but UMNO as well, reduced his presidential options.

The MCA presidential council was wrong to blur its reasons for forcing its president out of the Malaysian cabinet. The human resources minister, Dato' Fong Chong Onn, and the housing and local government minister, Dato' Ong Ka Ting, aligned to Dr Ling, left the meeting abruptly. The "sandiwara" in the press statement would only spawn more rumours. MCA president have always been forced out of office. Inevitable in a party which vests so much authority in him which he then misuses to block potential challengers. But Dr Ling dissipated his support within the MCA and the Chinese community as he coccooned himself from addressing the community's problems. The MCA, frankly, has lose its way, a distinction it shares with the Gerakan, the MIC, UMNO and other members of the National Front. The UMNO's problems, revealed in the recent convention, if not resolved would redound on the coalition partners, especially since their leaders depend on Malay votes to be elected to parliament. Dr Ling does not have the luxury to retire quietly, as Dato' Seri Lim did not have the right to spin a web of half-truths to what transpired. Either or both ought to come clean if they expect MCA to remain in the forefront of the National Front.

M.G.G. Pillai
pillai@mgg.pc.my