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Ling told to shut up as BN reels under the latest MCA crisis

IF THE MCA PRESIDENT, DATO' Seri Ling Liong Sik needed to know his time is past, it came to him with a bang from an unexpected quarter. The acting Prime Minister, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, ordered him to settle the MCA crisis immediately. An MCA crisis? Yes, one Dr Ling manufactured to force an party irritant named Dato' Ong Tee Kiat out of the party. As usual these days, Dr Ling believes that his writ runs when it does not. And focussed attention unnecessarily on not only MCA but BN as well. Dato' Ong alleged MCA leaders brought in triad gangsters to intimidate their rivals. He did not reveal any secrets; it had been going on for years. Dr Ling demanded Dato' Ong name the leaders, or resign from MCA. Dato' Ong did not, but said he did not sell classified information for personal profit, nor was a permanent resident of a foreign country even before he was appointed deputy minister, nor assets worth hundreds of millions of ringgit.

This raised a can of worms. The deputy minister for culture, arts and tourism, Dato' Ng Yen Yen, took permanent residency in Australia in 1990, and revoked it in 1995. But what raised eyebrows was why she did it. She and her husband took that step because of her frequent travelling to Australia to look after their three sons studying there. They were in their "early formative years" and she and her husband "realised the need for to be with their sons as frequently as possible to ensure parental bonding within the family". and to ensure they developed strong value system and strength of character. If you believe this rubbish, you believe anything. The Australian rules for permanent residency and migration are quite strict, and she and her husband would not have got it if it was only to ensure "parental bonding". If they were so concerned about "parental bonding", why were they sent to Australia? She does not say, of course, that with permanent residency, her sons pay nominal fees, as opposed to the astronomical fees non-permanent residents pay.

She is not alone. There are several cabinet ministers, not only from MCA, who do as she does. One has tens of millions of ringgit worth of property, and visits, on cabinet time, more often a year than there are fingers in one's hand. She entered politics at a time when intrusive questions could cause a crisis. So, she had to give up the permanent residency. But this raises another important question: should a Malaysian with dual loyalties be allowed to be active in politics? No one says why this happens: it is to park one's ill-gotten gains in a foreign country. If Malaysian cabinet ministers and politicians believe they help govern a country with excellent educational facilities, why is it that almost every one send their children overseas for even primary education?

Dr Ling ignores the Ong allegations. If he does not, he could well incriminate himself. But his son, he who got a RM1.2 billion bank loans without security of any kind, has no such scruples. He wants to sue Dato' Ong for libel. Dr Ling does not realise, as Dr Mahathir and President has, that he cannot, as leader, threaten and destroy those he does not like. Dr Ling wants to continue in office, against the wishes of most but his cronies. But, as always in an MCA in crisis, it is UMNO which determines the outcome. So, the UMNO deputy president tells the MCA president to cease and desist. For a good reason. With the Malay ground still at odds with UMNO and BN, they need the Chinese vote more than ever. A crisis now, with general elections pending next year, could upset not just the MCA but other, especially UMNO, constituencies as well.

So Dato' Seri Abdullah warns Dr Ling: If the crisis is unresolved, it could be the BN which could suffer. He spoke to Dato' Ong, and would Dr Ling when he returns from Manila where he is on official business. "I do not want problems in MCA to be widespread as this will make matters worse," he said superflously. But even he is not prepared to do what must: tell Dr Ling to resign, and let new leaders prepare the party for the general elections. As it is, behind-the-scens pressure has got both parties think of a neutral figure acceptable to both factions to be acting president when party elections are held next year. If so, Dr Ling is on a shorter leash that he believed. If he is not dismissed when Dato' Seri Abdullah takes over in October, he would before the party elections.

Dato' Seri Abdullah must act swiftly to prevent a further erosion of support. He appears to have made one mistake in Sabah when he named Dato' Musa Aman as chief minister. Fifteen of 20 UMNO divisions preferred the former chief minister, Dato' Salleh Said, to be appointed instead. That could have been Dato' Seri Abdullah's poisoned chalice. Dato' Salleh has his own power base, stronger than once thought, was once, and could well be, close to Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the jailed former deputy prime minister. By appointing Dato' Musa Aman, he has earned the political enmity of the most powerful political figure in UMNO. Since the 220 electoral votes for UMNO elections come from Sabah, Dato' Seri Abdullah would have to scramble even harder if he were challenged, amidst indications he would be, for the UMNO presidency eight months after he becomes Prime Minister. With the Kadazan constituency not disposed towards BN in Sabah as Kuala Lumpur hopes, Dato' Seri Abdullah treads on dangerous ground.

There are other fears: the continuing erosion of Malay support, the fear that this would cause the loss of two states - Pahang and Kedah - with Selangor at risk, the internal near-fatal weaknesses of UMNO and BN, all this caused by the continued detention of Dato' Seri Anwar. The BN believes it could retain power if Johore, Sarawak and Sabah vote solidly for it. But if the Chinese desert BN, then all is lost. Which is why Dato' Seri Abdullah is so worried at the fallout from Dr Ling's attempt at self-destruction. He knows he is on notice, once he succeeds Dr Mahathir, and his first big test is the General Election, now expected in the first few months of next year. The UMNO General Assembly in June would not be so forgiving of its acting president if BN and UMNO lose more seats than it could afford to. There is little doubt BN would romp home. Only the majority is in doubt. He could improve his chances if he looks at the Anwar affair as one that must be solved, not so it would be ignored. To put it bluntly, Dr Ling did not know what hit him when he picked up a fight with Dato' Ong.

M.G.G. Pillai
pillai@mgg.pc.my