In a surprise announcement today, MCA president Ling Liong Sik said he has submitted an undated resignation letter to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and indicated his willingness to vacate his ministerial post at any time.

Ling said that the letter submitted on Aug 15 last year was the second that he has sent to quit as transport minister the first having been submitted in May 2000 following an internal leadership tussle in MCA.

"In 2000, I already wanted to go but at that time it was seen as wrong by MCA members. I must tell you that there is no perfect time for retirement but when I look at my agenda, I think I have completed a very large part. I don't think I can do much more," he told reporters after the Barisan Nasional supreme council meeting at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

However, the minister said the decision on when he should leave now lies with the premier and that the move would not affect his position as MCA chief.

Ling made the shock announcement to reporters in a separate briefing following a press conference held by Mahathir, who had chaired the supreme council meeting of the ruling BN coalition this afternoon.

However, Mahathir had not mentioned the matter at his press conference although Ling said it had been discussed at the meeting.

When asked what prompted the discussion, Ling said, "He (Mahathir) just decided to announce it today."

PM's discretion

Elaborating on the issue, Ling said he had left it up to the PM as to when to accept the letter.

"In May 2000, I already submitted a letter of resignation but I was retained by the MCA then, so the prime minister said 'ok-lah, since they all want you to stay, stay'.

"We were talking again and I told PM that I am still ready to leave. He asked me when and I told him anytime after the official launch of Utar," he explained.

The Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar) was launched on Aug 13 last year.

"So on Aug 15, my letter went in ... I am very grateful for having been able to do national service for so long at such a high level ... and when the time comes (for me) to leave, I will be very happy to go," he added.

On whether recent law suits (filed by ex-ally Soh Chee Wen among others) had influenced his decision to quit, Ling retorted, "Absolutely not...they are lies. I've won all law suits against me (with damages)."

Asked if PM will accept his resignation before stepping down himself in October, Ling said he did not want to speculate and would leave it to Mahathir's discretion.

Quit discussion 'engineered'

Meanwhile, on the possible challenge posed to his leadership of MCA by deputy president Lim Ah Lek, Ling said anyone is allowed to contest the post.

He declined to say if he intends to defend the post, saying, "These are party matters and will be discussed with party members."

Press reports quoted Lim today as saying that he would stand for the MCA presidency in 2005, "if Dr Ling is still the president ... I am still around and there are no other challengers."

The online edition of China Press in a report today quoted a source saying that Lim had raised the issue of Ling's resignation at the BN supreme council meeting.

According to the source, Lim had asked Mahathir to confirm rumours of the MCA chief's resignation.

The leadership dispute within the party which started in May 2000, boiled over when the party's investment arm, Huaren Management Sdn Bhd, acquired Nanyang Press Holdings.

By then, the dispute caused a split in the leadership ranks, one aligned to Ling and the other to Lim. Eventually, a truce was declared following the prime minister's intervention and it was decided that there would be no contest for party posts until 2005.

However, despite the peace deal, the two factions in the Chinese-based party the second largest in the ruling coalition continue to lock horns.