Liow: I also feel betrayed

New MCA deputy president Liow Tiong Lai has spoken of an attempt by some party leaders to "poison" his relationship with president Ong Tee Keat for their own personal agenda.

Liow, who is the health minister, said he was under siege now and believed the continuous attacks on his personality and credibility were masterminded by certain leaders who "want to create a split in the party".

"I also feel betrayed. I supported Ong all this while. I supported his effort to have one MCA. I supported him all the way. Only after the Oct 10 EGM (extraordinary general meeting) did the situation turn sour. I not only became a victim but was also betrayed.

"All of us were together before but after Oct 10 there has been name calling, attacking with all sorts of tactics. This is very much uncalled for," he told Bernama in an interview.

Liow said his relationship with Ong was still normal and gave his account of what had transpired in the time between the Oct 10 EGM and the central committee (CC) meeting on Oct 15 where he was elected as deputy president while Ong did not resign despite mounting calls to do so.

He said that immediately after the EGM, which passed a vote of no-confidence in Ong, the president met him, vice-president Dr Ng Yen Yen, Wanita chief Chew Mei Fun and Youth chief Wee Ka Siong and expressed his desire to step down.

Later, Ong called for a meeting, which was attended by about 20 CC members, and told them that he no longer had the confidence of the party and assumed responsibility for the EGM decision, Liow said.

"He later directed Chew and (appointed CC member) Dr Hou (Kok Chung) to prepare his resignation letter in Mandarin even as the CC members were asking him to retract his decision," Liow said.

Ong then announced he was going on leave for four days and instructed Liow and party secretary-general Wong Foon Meng to handle party matters.

"Based on his insistence that he still wanted to step down, the CC members therefore decided that Ong would only resign after the succession plan had been worked out," Liow said.

He said that on the eve of the Oct 15 CC meeting, Ong called him from Bangkok in the morning to arrange a dinner with him, vice-president Kong Cho Ha, Ng, Chew and Wee at the Concorde Hotel in Kuala Lumpur but at the last minute, the president decided to meet them separately.

"He met us one by one but did not state his intention. Following that, some CC members asked me to talk to the president to find an amicable solution," Liow said.

No letter to demand resignation

For this, Liow said, he was accused of betraying and plotting to topple Ong and was called names like "traitor", "betrayer" and "CC mutineer".

"This is very unfair. I have to defend myself and defend the CC members who have been accused of backstabbing the president," he added.

Liow said 23 CC members had endorsed in writing to authorise him to talk to the president but "not to demand he should step down".

"Somebody tried to spin this as a letter to push him down. They even said I had presented it to the prime minister, demanding Ong to resign. You can ask the prime minister whether he has received it (such a letter)," he said.

Liow said he believed that there was somebody behind CC member Ti Lian Ker, a hardcore supporter of Ong, who had been making verbal attacks against him (Liow) and claiming that he (Liow) was the leader of the "third force" out to oust Ong and former number two Dr Chua Soi Lek.

At the interview, Liow also said that he would take legal action against those who had defamed him on the allegation that his wife had accepted a Toyota Alphard vehicle costing almost RM600,000 as a gift on his behalf.

"I have given my fullest cooperation to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the police. I want to clear my name. I will also take legal action against those trying to defame me.

"This is serious character assassination. I traded in my car to get a reconditioned Alphard. That's all," he said.

Ong's warning to troublemakers

Meanwhile Ong, in his latest blog entry, said that there was no need for him to obtain the central committee members' permission first to bring about unity in the party.

"I find it perplexing as to why I need the CC's permission when I try to bring about unity to the party.

"Do these people hope to see the party being dragged down by continuous infighting, just so they can achieve their selfish ambitions?" he asked.

Ong was referring to some CC members, including Liow, who had urged him to convene a CC meeting again so that he can explain to them his unity plans under which he will work along his rival Chua and continue to remain as president.

He also reiterated that he decided to continue with his task as the president as he realised that both he and Chia had almost 100 percent support of the delegates.

"During the Oct 15 MCA central committee meeting, someone said that I control almost 50 percent of the delegates while Chua has the backing of about 47 percent.

"Her statement has made me realise that me and Chua should come together and unite the party, as collectively we control almost 100 percent of the general assembly. Why should anyone question the greater unity plan?" he asked.

He also warned those who repeatedly questioned his decision to forge ahead with the unity plan.

"It would be unwise to make me reveal certain things that will deeply embarrass a few party leaders," he said.

- Bernama

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