KUALA LUMPUR, 11 Nov 2009: MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said today that vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai had sought his support for the party’s top post in the past month.
At a media conference held at the party headquarters, Chua told Liow to stop sending confusing signals and state clearly whether he wanted to be the president or deputy.
“If you want the deputy post now, just tell me clearly, then I may consider [quitting]. I’ll give it to you if it would ensure stability and unity in the party.
“I’m willing to do it, but make your position clear, don’t flip flop, don’t change your goal posts,” he said.
Chua said after the 10 Oct extraordinary general meeting (EGM), Liow had met him three times and spoke on the phone once, asking for his support to become president.
Liow briefly became deputy president after Chua was sacked by the party in August following a sex video scandal, only to be reinstated by the Registrar of Societies last week.
Chua also slammed the party’s former legal advisor, Datuk Leong Tang Chong, who said yesterday that the deputy president had not been reinstated and had misled the central committee (CC) at the 3 Nov meeting.
He said there should not be any objection as the matter was also clarified by the Registrar of Societies (ROS).
At the 3 Nov meeting, the letter from ROS was read out, debated, and put to a vote. Twenty-two CC members accepted ROS’s decision, while 12 were against and four abstained, he added.
Chua also announced that the party would hold a dialogue on Sunday for all division chairpersons, deputy chairpersons, secretaries, and Youth and Wanita leaders.
The three-hour session will mainly discuss preparations for the next general election, the status of the 28 Nov EGM requested by 16 CC members who are pushing for fresh party polls, and the proposal to open the election of the president and CC to members and not just delegates.
Chua said he had also informed party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and Liow on the dialogue. — Bernama
