The MCA’s number two man, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai (pic), has hit back at his party president for claiming that he is “impatient and power-hungry”.
He was responding to his party boss, Dr Chua Soi Lek, who had claimed in the Sin Chew daily yesterday that Liow is pressuring the president to leave before the party polls in December. Dr Chua had claimed that Liow met him three times after the 13th general election to ask him to step down.
According to the party constitution, once the president steps down, the deputy can take the post without becoming acting president.
Liow said in a statement today, “I am disappointed that he had stated that I have persistently confronted him to step down.”
D Chua has claimed that at the second and the third meetings, Liow asked when the president was going to retire.
The MCA deputy president responded that there were many subsequent meetings where conversation covered many issues regarding party interests.
Referring to Dr Chua, he said, “I am shocked that he misinterpreted my earnest participation and it has so heavily burdened and disturbed him over the last few months.”
He added that Dr Chua’s attempt to colour him as impatient and power-hungry was unjustified and desperate.
Liow also maintained that two issues that have become bones of contention in the party remain alive. One was the move to asset-strip Matang Holding by using the party’s investment arm, Huaren Holdings. The other was the decision to the membership suspension of Tee Siew Keong who was punished for accepting a post in the Johor exco, against party policy. – September 8, 2013.
