Chua to Liow: You can have the No 2 post if...

Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has offered to quit the MCA deputy presidency if that is what Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai wants.

Liow, who was MCA deputy president following the party Oct 10 EGM till last Tuesday, has been disputing the reinstatement of Dr Chua as deputy president.

Yesterday, ex-party legal advisor Datuk Leong Tang Chong also argued that Dr Chua had not been reinstated but that the MCA central committee had been misled into thinking so.

Dr Chua told a press conference today that he is willing to give it to Liow if it means the move can end the crisis, ensure stability and unity. But he wants Liow to make his position clear.

The star has the story:

Liow can have my post, says Soi Lek

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek is willing to give up his post for Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai if the vice-president makes it clear that he wants the No. 2 post.

Dr Chua said he was willing to step down from the post if such a move could ensure stability and unity in the party.

He just needs to say ‘I, Liow Tiong Lai, want your (deputy president) post’ and I will quit and give the post to him.

“Please tell us what you want and make your position clear once and for all. If it (relinquishing the post) can end theparty crisis, I am willing to do so,” he challenged Liow at a press conference here on Wednesday.

Dr Chua also reminded Liow that he was elected deputy president by the central delegates while Liow was chosen by the central committee.

He said Liow had contacted him before the Oct 15 central committee meeting and he told the latter not to fill up the deputy president post as he had written to the Registrar of Societies to clarify the matter.

“I told him that if the ROS decides that I am the deputy president, he will get very embarassed,” he said

He also questioned Liow’s intention in changing his stand to go against party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat after the Oct 10 extraordinary general meeting.

“Why did none of you stand up to support me when I was fighting against Ong Tee Keat and say that the president cannot pakai(is useless) anymore?

“Why is there a sudden change of tune when thevote of no-confidence is passed against the president?” he said, referring to Liow and his group.

On whether his move to step down from the post would affect the greater unity plan, Dr Chua said: “They think that maybe I am a hindrance to party unity. Maybe they think that Liow and Ong together are ‘unity’.

To him, he said, party unity included Ong, himself, Liow, vice-presidents Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen,Tan Kok Hong, Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong and Wanita chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun.

Asked whether Ong was aware about his remarks at the press conference, Dr Chua said: “I don’t know. When I see the press, I don’t have to get permission from anybody or consult anyone.”

Dr Chua also clarified that he had written to the ROS to ask if he was still the legitimate deputy president

“In its reply, the ROS said the post was not vacant and the letter was read by the president and secretary-general (Datuk Wong Foon Meng) to the central committee at last Tuesday’s meeting,” he said.

He said 22 central committee members had voted to accept the ROS’ decision at the meeting while 12 others, including Liow,voted against it. Four others, including himself, abstained from voting.