The new cabinet line-up today saw the MCA, Barisan Nasional's second largest component, given an additional deputy minister and two parliamentary secretary posts.

In the new line-up, the party has four ministers, eight deputies and four parliamentary secretaries as opposed to the previous four, seven and two respectively.

MCA vice-president Chua Jui Meng was the main casualty to emerge from the new line-up. The former health minister is the most senior MCA leader and one of two cabinet members from the party to be dropped.

The other is central committee member Chor Chee Heung who had served as deputy home minister in the previous cabinet.

Johor MCA chief Dr Chua Soi Lek, a first-term member of parliament, replaced Chua Jui Meng as health minister. The former is a key figure in the party's Team A while the latter is from the rival faction.

Jui Meng did not express any intention to retire prior to this. He could not be reached for comment this afternoon while attempts to reach other party top leaders, including the axed Chor, also proved futile.

The new duties

The seven MCA leaders who retained their posts included party chief Ong Ka Ting (housing and local government minister), deputy president Chan Kong Choy (transport minister), vice-presidents Dr Fong Chan Onn (human resources minister), Ong Tee Keat (deputy youth and sports minister) and Dr Ng Yen Yen (deputy finance minister), central committee members Hon Choon Kim (deputy education minister) and Donald Lim (deputy information minister).

Tan Chai Ho is transferred from the energy, communication and multimedia ministry to the home ministry but remains as deputy minister.

Two parliamentary secretaries Fu Ah Kiow (photo) and Wong Kam Hoong were elevated to assume the deputy minister posts in the new established higher education ministry and arts, culture and heritage ministry respectively.

The MCA's six new faces in the new cabinet - apart from Soi Lek - are Kong Cho Ha as deputy science, technology and innovations minister and parliamentary secretaries Dr Tan Yee Kew (international trade and industry ministry), Chew Mei Fun (women, family and community development ministry), Hoo Seong Chang (domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry) and Yew Teong Lock (federal territories ministry).

These new federal government posts for MCA leaders drew the attention of the Chinese political circles to the failed succession talks in 1999 over the arrangement of cabinet posts as well.

Showdown soon?

That had eventually erupted into an open split in the party between Team A led by then party president Dr Ling Liong Sik and Team B led by deputy chief Lim Ah Lek. The acquisition of two Chinese dailies in 2001 led to further tension between the feuding groups.

It is noted that among the five new faces in the line-up, only one, Yee Kew, is aligned to Team B. The team also lost Jui Meng as a full minister. The other dropped cabinet member, Chor is however is aligned to Team A.

It is the usual practice of the party president to recommend candidates for cabinet posts to the prime minister. MCA current president Ong was aligned to Team A.

MCA watchers are now saying that the cabinet posts for MCA leaders announced today, which greatly benefitted Team A, could very well rekindle the sparks for another showdown between the two factions in the days to come.