Dr Mahathir Mohamad gave the first hint of an impending cabinet reshuffle today when he said that he needed time to study the matter.

"I will study whether there is a need to reshuffle the cabinet following changes in the MCA leadership," he said in Langkawi today.

"I will think about it. We tell you when we decide," Bernama quoted him as saying.

Talks of possible changes to the cabinet have intensified following the resignation of Transport Minister Dr Ling Liong Sik as MCA president two days ago.

Dr Ling and deputy president Lim Ah Lek resigned from the top two posts o­n Friday.

The MCA central committee elected Housing and Local Government Minister Ong Ka Ting as president and Deputy Finance Minister Chan Kong Choy as deputy president.

Dr Ling said yesterday that he was leaving it to the prime minister to decide o­n his position in the cabinet.

On his meeting with o­ng in Langkawi today, Mahathir said the new MCA president came to thank him.

"He met me to thank me for accepting his leadership in MCA," he said.

Mahathir also reiterated that he would not interfere in the internal affairs of MCA and it was up to the new leaders to resolve whatever problems there might be among members.