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.

NONE 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.

azlan 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”.

 'Uphold discipline'

In a separate matter, Liow said ex-national organising secretary Tee 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.

"I'm of the opinion that any party member, be it leader or rank and file, as long as he or she defies the resolution endorsed in party's annual general assembly, must be punished severely. This is a very important principle."

The former health minister also refused to confirm if the Election Commission had seeked his ministry's advice on reducing the silver nitrate content in the indelible ink which was said to have carcinogenic properties.

Liow dismissed the question, saying it should be referred to the director general of the Health Ministry who is in charge at the administrative level and not a minister who works at the policy making level.

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