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Friday 13 November 2009

Liow Tells Chua To Give Up Deputy President Post Unconditionally

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 (Bernama) -- MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai fired back at Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek Thursday to "surrender" the deputy president post and go for a fresh election in the ongoing party rift.

Dr Chua yesterday said he would consider giving his post to Liow if the latter asked for it.

"The deputy president position belongs to the party, it does not belong to any individual ... he cannot be giving it to me personally," Liow told a press conference before meeting about 500 Johor party members at Wisma MCA to garner support for the "MCA Integrity Restoring Task Force (MIRT)" campaign.

"What I want to say is that he should respect the 10/10 EGM decision and surrender the deputy president post unconditionally and go for a fresh election."

Liow was referring to the Oct 10 extraordinary general meeting where party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat lost the vote of confidence, while Dr Chua was reinstated as a member but not as deputy president following his sacking from the party in August.

Liow was then elected deputy president by the party's central committee (CC) but the Registrar of Societies (ROS) last week ruled that Dr Chua was still the deputy president.

Asked whether he was trying to revive his position as deputy president, Liow refuted it and reiterated that his main objective was for the party to hold fresh elections.

On the group which met him today, he said they were Johor party members from the Tanjung Piai and Pontian branches who arrived in 10 buses and several cars.

Liow said preparations for the Nov 28 EGM, called by 16 CC members, were ongoing with funds being raised.

MCA Youth chief Datuk Wee Ka Siong, who is among the 16, said Liow's supporters had so far collected RM15,622 and they needed RM48,000 to pay for the rental of Dewan San Choon at Wisma MCA for two days.

"Many of the central delegates are worried about their accommodation to attend the EGM but we will give them a safe place to stay," he said.

Also present at the press conference were CC members Wong Nai Chee, Datuk Wee Jeck Seng and Lee Wei Kiat.

Dr Chua, meanwhile, has challenged Liow not to contest in the event of a party election.

"He says a party position is not important, that I agree, so at this coming party election if there is any, I hope Liow Tiong Lai will not stand for any party position. If he does so, Chua Soi Lek is willing to follow," he said.

He dared Liow to announce at the Nov 28 EGM that party positions were unimportant to him and that he would not contest.

Dr Chua was speaking to reporters after chairing a closed-door meeting at the party headquarters to discuss the "greater unity plan" which was also attended by party vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen and CC member Senator Heng Seai Kie.

He said when he first wanted to call for an EGM following his sacking, Liow had questioned his motive, but he was now doing the same to get support from the grassroots for the Nov 28 EGM.

On Liow's request for him to give up his position unconditionally, Dr Chua said if Liow was not satisfied with the fact that he was still the deputy president, he should clarify it with the ROS and "not go around barking at the wrong horse".

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