Chua Soi Lek told off for open spat with MCA veep

MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek’s open quarrel with vice-president Donald Lim has earned him a rebuke of sorts from deputy president Liow Tiong Lai.

Liow (left in photo)urged Chua not to use “harsh words” on party colleagues, but instead to engage them in a dialogue via internal mechanisms.

“I believe the president can voice his opinion through mechanisms within the party, instead of making harsh comments in the newspapers," Liow told a press conference today, when asked his opinion of the Chua-Lim spat last week.

He also pointed out that Chua’s reaction was not in line with the ongoing MCA transformation mission.

Lim (right in photo) had claimed that it was entirely Chua’s (left in photo) decision that party members should not accept government posts, in the wake of MCA’s poor showing in the 13th general election last month.

Noting that Lim is entitled to his opinion, Liow also said this is an issue of “free speech”.

On a separate matter, Liow said ex-national organising secretaryTee Siew Kiong should be “severely punished” for having defied the party stance and accepting a Johor exco post.

Only then will the party be able to unite the members, as well as uphold discipline, he said.

[More to follow]