The MCA deputy president Lim Ah Lek has accused party president Dr Ling Liong Sik of intentionally trying to create a public impression that "the struggle for Cabinet posts" is the main cause of the present party crisis.

In an exclusive interview with Utusan Malaysia published today, Lim also denied that the root cause of the crisis was his insistence that party vice-president and deputy finance minister Chan Kong Choy be appointed to a full ministerial post.

"It was Ling who offered and promised to propose a ministerial post for Chan after the 1996 party election," he said.

Lim said he only reminded Ling, the transport minister, on "his promise" five days before Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced his Cabinet lineup after the 1999 general election.

Asked why Ling made the promise, Lim said: "I wouldn't know, but Ling has once said that Chan is a disciplined man because he (Chan) preferred to retain his Youth chief post instead of contesting for vice-presidency."

When asked whether he has approached Ling to clarify the matters, Lim said he had once told the party presidential meeting that he had never asked for Chan to be given a minister's post.

Tarnished image

"I had also asked Ling why he want to tarnish my image. He has never answered that question. I still do not understand why all these are happening. This allegation has tarnished my image and that of my family and my father," Lim said.

Ling (pic) had previously said that he decided to propose the appointment of the three vice-presidents - Dr Fong Chan Onn, Chua Jui Meng and Ong Ka Ting - to full ministership because they obtained the highest votes in the 1999 party election.

"If that so, why after the 1995 general election, Ling did not proposed Yap Pian Hon, the vice-president then, to any cabinet post. He instead proposed a much junior Tan Chai Ho and Chor Chee Heung as parliamentary secretaries," Lim asked.

On his objection to the setting up of a party veteran committee to investigate the fracas during the August 3 MCA Youth meeting, Lim said: "All this while, the investigation of such incidents was done by the disciplinary committee chaired by me."

However, he said, after the long debate, he finally agreed to the setting up of a veteran committee to investigate the incident, provided the committee's members were selected after consultation with the president and deputy-president.

"Unfortunately, a month after that, Ling gave the authority to central committee member Chor Chee Heung to appoint the committee members," he said.

Lim said MCA will continue to garner support and help Barisan Nasional (BN) return to power in future general elections if the party stays united and its leaders are free of scandals.

The party is in turmoil following its controversial takeover of Nanyang Press which publishes two popular Chinese dailies in May.