'He is weak', 'He is indecisive' and 'He is not a fighter' screamed The Star's front page today, all this in neat speech bubbles in reference to MCA deputy president Liow Tiong Lai.

mca liow tiong lai rebut chua soi lek 080913 01The MCA-owned English daily's unflattering but creatively presented headline quoting party president Chua Soi Lek has left Liow fuming.

"It's too much, it's really too much. This is really abusing the newspaper.

"He (Chua) is using the newspaper's front page to whack me because of a personal grudge. The Star should be more professional," Liow told Malaysiakini when contacted.
However, Liow said he sympathised with the situation that The Star had to face under Chua.
"I sympathise with the professional and ethical employees of the paper. Having to be made use for a personal agenda is despicable. I feel very sorry," he said.

Liow, who saw the headline via a MMS from Malaysiakini, sounded furious at the report and lamented that Chua was using party machinery to get at him ahead of next week's extraordinary general meeting (EGM).
Responding to his alleged "weaknesses" so prominently highlighted h by The Star, Liow said ultimately his own track record speaks louder than Chua's words.

‘Track record speaks louder’


"When I was a cabinet minister, I delivered results and I carried out whatever party decisions, on top of helping to resolve a lot of community issues.

"So, my results speak louder than empty talk or personal attacks," he said.

NONEIn the front page report, Chua listed the three reasons why Liow should step down together with him and not vie for the MCA presidency at the December party polls.
The EGM on Oct 20, initiated by Chua's faction, will among others seek to censure Liow for going against the party's central committee decision on Pulai Sebatang assemblyperson Tee Siew Keong.

Liow had attempted to block the party membership reinstatement of the rep, seen as an ally of Chua.

Tee was initially suspended for accepting a post in the Johor government in violation of a party resolution to refuse government positions, following MCA’s abysmal performance at the last general election.

However, Chua succeeded in outmanoeuvring Liow by obtaining majority support in the central committee to reinstate Tee.

This prompted Liow to seek an EGM to decide on Tee's case but Chua blocked the move.

Chua's allies then countered by calling for the upcoming EGM that will push Liow onto the hot seat.