MCA deputy president Liow Tiong Lai has shot back at MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek's supporters for blaming him for MCA's poor electoral performance on May 5 and insists that Chua's sex scandal is the primary reason.

"The reason for our massive defeat was because we have a morally tainted president," Liow told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

He was responding to the proposal for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) drawn up by 20 MCA central committee members aligned to Chua.

Among others, a resolution for the EGMseeks to censure Liow for allegedly failing in his duties as the GE13 preparation committee chairperson to make the necessary preparations, implement an effective strategy and build good media relations.

To justify his claim, Liow said the BN component parties shunned Chua during the general election campaign because of his past indiscretions, which involved a tryst with a "personal friend" that had been caught on video.

"During the pre-election house-to-house campaign, we, including the woman, were given negative remarks and insulted (by the people) because we have such a leader.

"They even asked us about the VCD," said Liow, who has had a very thorny relationship with Chua since the general election.

'It was all Soi Lek'

On claims that he did not fulfil his election preperation duties, Liow responded by claiming that Chua was the one who took charge of the preparations and made most of the decisions.

"I want to stress that a lot of issues that determined the election strategy of MCA were decided by the president.

"He decided on the election candidates. He discussed with the BN chairperson about exchanging seats or giving away seats. He decided on how much resources would be received by candidates and he decided on MCA's slogan," Liow said.

In view of this, he added, he could not see why he was now being singled out.

Nevertheless, Liow said he was ready to face the EGM because he believed that the central delegates were mature enough to decide on the matter.

Liow supports resolution on gov't posts

On the resolution proposed by Chua's faction to review an earlier party decision to shun government positions, Liow said he was supportive of the resolution on grounds that it reflected the wishes of the Chinese community.

"Accepting government positions has always been my stand. When I discussed the matter with the Chinese community, NGOs and the rakyat, they all called for the MCA to review this (decision).

"I've raised the issue long ago and they are only talking about it now," he said.

However, Liow said, he would urge the central committee to include an additional resolution to seek the opinion of the central delegates over the central committee's decision to reinstate Tee Siew Keong's membership.

The MCA disciplinary committee had recommended that Tee's membership be suspended because he had accepted a state executive council post in Johor.

Tee said he had no choice because it was decreed by the Johor Sultan. The MCA central committee accepted his explanation by a narrow vote and rescinded his suspension.