Johor DAP chairperson Liew Chin Tong, who was appointed a senator this afternoon, has been sworn in as deputy defence minister.

This prompted MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong to take a stroll down memory lane.

He recalled how Liew mocked MCA Youth chief Chong Sin Woon when the latter was appointed a senator and subsequently a deputy minister, despite not contesting in the 2013 general election.

“I remember how he often teased and laughed about this. He even went on record to say there is no such thing as a 'backdoor' constituency which allowed for Chong's appointment.

“So what happened to his stand now?

"Liew has to answer which 'backdoor' constituency he is representing. He cannot be changing his position as and when it suits him,” he told Malaysiakini.

Wee, who defeated Liew in the May 9 general election for the Ayer Hitam parliamentary seat, also pointed out that the latter was not forced to accept the appointment.

“I have to congratulate him on his appointment. However, I must also point out that he was not forced to accept the appointment.

"You have to agree in order to be sworn in,” he added.

On June 12, Liew filed an election petition to challenge the outcome of the Ayer Hitam seat result.

His lawyer Yeo Yang Poh said the case is significant as the court would review the alleged misconduct during the election process including on polling day, and this would help improve our electoral process to be better and fair.

Liew secured 16,773 votes, while incumbent Wee won the federal seat with a majority of 303 votes after securing 17,076 votes.

PAS candidate Mardi Marwan secured 4,975 votes. The result also recorded 556 rejected ballots and 94 unreturned ballots. The turnout rate was 85.52 percent out of 46,157 registered electors.

Responding to this on the same day, Wee welcomed the legal challenge and expressed hope that it would prove his innocence.

The former minister in the Prime Minister's Department also recalled what transpired on the night of the 14th general election.

“Late into the night of May 9, Liew rang me up to concede defeat and congratulate me.

"I told him then that I could not make myself happy as many of my comrades in BN and MCA had lost.

“I hope the legal suit will prove my innocence yet again,” he added.