Former MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek is disappointed that his successor had failed to flex his muscles against an Umno minister for making a racist remark.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Chua said Liow should have been more assertive in reprimanding Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Asked if he felt let down with the Prime Minister’s Office regarding its reaction to the matter, he replied: "I am more disappointed with my president".

He said Liow ( left ) should not have delegated the task of confronting a cabinet colleague to MCA Youth chief Chong Sin Woon instead.

"He is too junior to handle this," he pointed out.

"Liow should have come out strongly. People expect him to say that it is wrong, this does not require any discussion in cabinet, there is nothing high brow, it is a simple matter," he said.

Ismail courted flak with a Facebook posting in which he called on the Malays to boycott Chinese traders, who refused to reduce their prices.

He has since called his critics petty and refused to apologise.

I believe PMO more

Chua said that Liow should not use the excuse of not wanting to bicker in the open with a cabinet colleague.

"I understand that cabinet colleagues should not quarrel openly on policy matters. But this (Ismail’s) stand contradicts the BN spirit," added the former health minister.

Chua also noted the contradictory statements which arose after yesterday’s cabinet meeting, where the PMO said Ismail ( right ) was targetting all traders irrespective of race whereas Liow stated that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak understood MCA’s position.

Liow’s statement, he said, gave the impression that the cabinet had ticked off Ismail.

"But I am inclined to believe the PMO more," he added.

As for Ismail, Chua said that some politicians believe that publicity, be it positive or negatives, is good for them.

"In this context, Ismail has achieved that. But his statement has a racial dimension and leaves a bad taste in a multiracial nation," he added.