MCA deputy president Lim Ah Lek today dismissed Chinese media reports which portrayed him as the catalyst for party president Dr Ling Liong Sik's intention to resign as transport minister.

Describing the allegation as a 'rumour', Lim said this was a plot to discredit him. He sent a strongly-worded protest to editors of the newspapers concerned today, asking that the 'misleading' reports be clarified.

"No such thing happened and it was very irresponsible of whoever who did this. It is not true at all. Nobody raised the issue before Prime Minister (Dr Mahathir Mohamad) made the announcement, not me or the other members of component parties," Lim said when contacted by malaysiakini .

In its online edition, China Press

quoted sources as saying that Lim had asked the premier to confirm the MCA chief's resignation at yesterday's Barisan Nasional supreme council meeting.

"They not only implicated me, but also said the prime minister had scolded me. It is very, very serious to write something that the prime minister did not say, but they don't realise it.

"If it is true that I raised the issue (of Ling's resignation), I could neither deny it nor run away...I would be a fool (to do that) and the prime minister would also scold me for telling lies. Everyone (who attended) the meeting knows what happened yesterday."

Malaysiakini learnt that Mahathir had announced in his opening remarks that Ling had tendered an undated resignation letter.

The prime minister had also urged BN coalition members to uphold the spirit of teamwork when he touched on the recent breach of discipline by two MCA Penang state assembly representatives.

It is further learnt that the premier apologised to Ling during the meeting, for not having informed him in advance that the matter of his resignation letter would be announced.

'Desperate' measures

Asked why he had been implicated by the Chinese press, Lim said it could be due to his announcement earlier this week, that he was ready to challenge Ling in the 2005 party election.

"They (Team A) are trying to discredit me at this moment, they are desperate. They must be controlling the papers, or how is it that the reports only appeared in the Chinese dailies?"

MCA's investment arm acquired Nanyang Siang Pau and

China Press in May 2001, while Sin Chew Daily and Guang Ming Daily owner Tiong Hiew King is said to be Ling's close associate.

Sin Chew said in a front-page sources-based report that Mahathir had brought up the issue when he expressed dissatisfaction with Lim's intention to contest the MCA president's post, and that he (Mahathir) had rebuked Lim.

According to the daily, Mahathir said, "Actually Ling already submitted his resignation letter to me last August, but I didn't accept it. He would like to quit, but MCA still needs him. The country and I appreciate his contributions and service. So what are you still quarreling about?"

Manipulated reporters

The daily also quoted MCA central committee member and Deputy Home Minister Chor Chee Heung as saying that there was a "culprit" behind the resignation issue.

"The person who intended to contest against the president had manipulated the reporters to pursue Ling's resignation to gain political mileage.

"What was surprising is not the resignation (since Ling had revealed his desire to quit in 2000) but that somebody would, for his political interest, manipulate reporters to ask the unsuitable question," he said.

Although Chor did not name the 'culprit', observers said it was apparent he was referring to Lim who announced earlier this week that he would contest for the top post in the next party election if Ling refused to step down.

The headline on Nanyang 's front-page read: 'Response to Ah Lek's intention to contest for party president, Ling: I have resigned'.

Also quoting sources, the daily said Ling had told reporters about his resignation because Lim had announced his decision to challenge him in the 2005 party election.

No connection

Meanwhile, Lim said his announcement to contest as president should not be seen as a factor behind Ling's intention to quit his ministerial post.

"It has nothing to do with my decision to contest for the post. This is the second time that he has said he wants to resign. It is up to him and if it is true, we should respect his decision," Lim said.

"But, if the prime minister made the announcement without informing him first yesterday, (it must mean) that the premier is trying to send out some message."

MCA, which claims to have over one million members and is the second largest party in the ruling coalition, has been split into two camps Team A led by Ling and Team B by Lim over the acquisition of the Nanyang Group dailies.

The situation grew so hostile that Mahathir had to intervene in the feud last April, to prevent a potential backlash against the BN in terms of Chinese electoral support.

The premier brokered a peace deal between Ling and Lim, who agreed that all party posts would not be contested until 2005.