EVER since his rise to the top in the MCA in 1986, Datuk Seri Dr Ling Liong Sik has travelled through many uncharted territories as the leader of the largest Chinese-based political party in the country, an invaluable member of the ruling coalition and as Transport Minister.
But it was all very different when Dr Ling took over the MCA nearly 17 years ago. The party was broken and split following a protracted power struggle between two factions, and support from the community was low following the collapse of Koperatif Serbaguna Malaysia.