In the 1995
Malaysian general election, Ah Lek defeated
Democratic Action Party (Malaysia) candidate, Syed Ali Mohsin at P83
Bentong, Pahang. Subsequently, the Bentong area was represented by
Liow Tiong Lai. In 1999, his name was dropped from the election candidate and was replaced by Liow Tiong Lai. Ah Lek was elected as MCA deputy president in 1986, replacing
Lee Kim Sai, while
Ling Liong Sik became acting president and subsequently president. At that time MCA President
Tan Koon Swan was imprisoned in Singapore following the Pan El scandal. At the MCA 2000 general meeting, Dr Ling had a tongue with Lim Ah Lek. In 2001, AhLek was labelled as Team B opposing the political party to control the independence of Malaysia A Team Press team led by Ling Liong Sik. The Ah Lek and Liong Sik militants began after the 1999 elections, when Ah Lek wanted
Chan Kong Choy to be full minister. MCA has a strong influence on the
Star and
UMNO's influence on Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian. Geng 8 in the MCA, namely Dato'
Chua Jui Meng and Dato'
Chan Kong Choy, led by Deputy President Dato' Lim Ah Lek, supported the establishment of the Chinese community for journalists to be given a vast space for freedom and criticism. Some people are trying to buy and control Nanyang Publication. MCA's investment company, Huaren Management Sdn. Bhd. buy Nanyang Press Holdings for RM230 million. Other leaders who oppose this sale and purchase agreement are, Youth Chief Datuk
Ong Tee Keat and MCA Women's Deputy Chief Datin Paduka Dr. Tan Yee Kew. After Geng 8, Geng 10 was formed comprising Johor MCA Youth chief Hoo Seong Chan; Datuk Chong Toh Eng (Selangor), Lau Chek Tuan (Penang), Senator Yew Teong Look (Federal Territory), Datuk Soon Tian Szu (Melaka), Yip Chee Kiong (Negeri Sembilan), Tan Ken Ten (Kelantan), Toh Chin Yau (Terengganu) and Chew Kok Who (Sabah). At the 2002 MCA general meeting, Liong Sik and Ah Lek remained one-year retirement until 2005 (2002–2005) for no election. All this is due to the intervention / peace plan proposed by Prime Minister
Mahathir Mohamad to have no MCA election in 2002. In 2004, Lim Ah Lek and Ling Liong Sik voluntarily retreated from MCA politics and were replaced by
Ong Ka Ting and Tan
Chan Kong Choy. ==Retired from politics==