Former MCA deputy president Lim Ah Lek today emerged from his political retirement to stir up further the volatile cauldron of MCA politics.
In a rare statement faxed to the media, Lim (right) who retired together with erstwhile rival Dr Ling Liong Sik, expressed his full support for former president Ong Ka Ting and urged the latter to run for party chief in the upcoming MCA elections.
“Ka Ting should seriously consider the call of the members and Chinese community leaders to come forward and lead the party once again for the sake of MCA, Barisan Nasional and the people of the nation,” he said.
According to the former MCA deputy president, Ka Ting's leadership is needed to reunite leaders and grassroot members and to “restore democracy and rule of law within the party”.
“In fact, I have received numerous appeals from veterans and members of the party as well,” claimed Lim, indicating that he was persuaded to release the statement.
Over the past few days, close to 33 MCA divisions have urged Ka Ting to make a political comeback.
Ironically, Ka Ting (left) is the former protege of Lim's bitter rival, ex-party president Ling.
Ling and Lim were both engaged in a protracted power struggle in MCA 10 years ago, which saw the party splitting into two factions - Team A led Ling and Team B led by Lim.
The Team A-Team B rivalry reached breaking point when MCA took over two Chinese newspapers, a move opposed by Team B and many within the Chinese community.
Eventually, then premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad weighed in and brokered a peace deal which saw both Ling and Lim stepping down in 2003 to be replaced by their respective proteges - Ka Ting and Chan Kong Choy.
Only Ka Ting can 'save' MCA
Lim's unexpected statement today indicates a realignment of forces within MCA with former foes - Team A and Team B - joining forces to form a formidable fourth faction in the embattled party.
The former deputy chief said that the reason for his interjection is his “concern” and “regret” that the crisis in MCA has continued to worsen instead of dissipating after last year's extraordinary general meeting (EGM).
He singled out “top party leaders” as being responsible for the chaos by failing to enforce the EGM decision and nip the crisis in the bud.
Lim told Malaysiakini that only Ka Ting can 'save' the MCA from disaster.
He said the three existing leaders - Tee Keat, Chua and Liow - have proven their inability to unite the party following the EGM.
He also lambasted both Tee Keat and Chua for not respecting the decisions of the EGM, which is the party's highest decision-making body.
“The EGM had decided - MCA members do not want both of them - but they refused to leave. The situation in the party today is their fault. They cannot blame others for it.”
The coming together of Team A and Team B will give Ka Ting and his elder brother, Ka Chuan, more political leverage to deal with the other three factions led respectively by MCA chief Ong Tee Keat, deputy chief Dr Chua Soi Lek and vice-president Liow Tiong Lai.
One solution is the much speculated 'Chua-Liow-Ong brothers' peace formula which could overcome the leadership impasse without the party having to go through a bitter contest.
Whatever the case, this spark from Lim may yet light the tinder of fiercer rivalry in the already blazing MCA leadership tussle.
courtesy of Malaysiakini
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