Chinese leader stirs Malaysian politics

By Jonathan Kent BBC correspondent in Kuala Lumpur

There's been a major shake-up in Malaysian politics with the senior ethnic Chinese leader in the government resigning as head of his party.

Ling Liong Sik resigned in an attempt to end in-fighting

The move is seen as an effort to stem faction fighting amongst Chinese Malaysian politicians ahead of the retirement of the country's long-serving prime minister.

The Malaysian Government has held power for 45 years by forging coalitions of parties, each representing different ethnic groups.

But the largest Chinese party in the ruling National Front coalition has been riven for years by bitter squabbles.

Ling Liong Sik, who led the Malaysian Chinese association for 17 years, quit late on Friday, together with his main rival, in an attempt to end the infighting.

Important vote

The resignations are widely believed to have been prompted by the Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

His government only survived at the last election because of the support of ethnic Chinese voters, who make up almost 30% of the population.

Dr Mahathir is due to step down in October after 22 years in power and another poll is on the horizon.

Dr Mahathir is stepping down

The prime minister clearly wants his successor to inherit an ally that can deliver the Chinese vote.

The leadership of the Malaysian Chinese association now skips a generation to two junior ministers in their forties.

It is unlikely the party will change direction. Its main concern is to promote the interests of the ethnic Chinese business community.

But critics accuse it of being little more than a money gathering machine, which has failed to give the large Chinese population here a political voice commensurate with its size.