The slim margin of victory obtained in the support for MCA's controversial takeover of two Chinese dailies at its extraordinary general meeting today clearly showed that the real loser is party chief Dr Ling Liong Sik.

In an immediate reaction, Committee Against the Takeover by MCA (CAT) chairperson Tang Ah Chai told malaysiakini that though Ling as MCA president had an upper hand within his party, the vote showed that many party delegates were against the deal.

"He has lost morally. He has also lost the support of a significant section of the party's grassroots," Tang stated.

A little over half of the 2,216 MCA delegates today voted in favour of the party's takeover of Nanyang Press, which publishes two Chinese dailies - the Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press.

The secret ballot saw 1,176 delegates, or 53 percent, voting to back the takeover while 1,019 voted against the deal - a majority of 157 votes.

Tang added that the party's central committee had voted on May 30 in favour of deal by 32 against 8; however, today's vote proved that the committee members did not really expressed the wishes of the MCA grassroots.

"The decision of the majority of the central committee only reflected the interests of their leader," said Tang.

Tang suggested that Ling should completely divest MCA's stake in Nanyang Press to a third party, which is neither a political party nor a rival media group, to patch up the bitter split within the party.

Not 100 percent support

Meanwhile, former MCA vice-president Yap Pian Hon said the result of vote had sent a clear message to the party's president that his decision to take over Nanyang was not 100 percent supported by the party's rank-and-file.

"The message of the delegates is that it is extremely important not to fight against the Chinese community on this issue," said Yap, who is MCA member of parliament for Serdang.

Yap hoped that Ling would take the necessary steps to resolve the conflict with the Chinese community.

Last month, Hong Leong group owner Quek Leng Chan sold Nanyang Press to MCA's investment arm Huaren Holdings for RM230 million cash.

The deal has provoked a torrent of protest from the Chinese community who fears that the Chinese newspapers and magazines under the Nanyang group would be turned into government mouthpieces.

DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang said Ling should accept that the 157-vote win today as an "ignominious victory" and the MCA president should summon an emergency meeting of the central committee to revoke the party's takeover of Nanyang.

"The 1,019 vote with 47 percent of the delegates opposed to the deal is itself a clear and ringing vote of no confidence in Ling as MCA president," Lim said in an immediate statement today.

Lim said the 1,019 MCA delegates who voted against the deal should work with everyone outside MCA opposed to the deal if Ling is not prepared to revoke the MCA deal.

Meanwhile, the free press activists and staff of Nanyang Press will hold a candle light vigil in front of MCA's headquarters Wisma MCA tonight to protest against the party's approval of the deal.