MCA deputy president aspirant Liow Tiong Lai today said he can play a stronger role as the number two man in the party if he wins in the election this Sunday.

The former vice-president said nobody should attack him for his decision to go for the deputy presidency and he would continue his campaign nationwide before the March 28 poll where he would be facing Kong Cho Ha in a straight fight.

NONE "Kong had asked why I didn't go for number one, why am I going for number two, I said this was right from the beginning, I did not say that I was going to contest the presidency.

"I feel I can offer myself for number two because I think I can play a stronger role as number two, so I don't think anybody should attack me on my choice to choose number two," the health minister told a press conference.

 

Sunday's poll will be an intense affair as incumbent president Ong Tee Keat faces off with immediate past president Ong Ka Ting and Dr Chua Soi Lek to defend the post after months of crisis in the MCA.

Ten candidates are vying for the four vice-president slots and 86 are going for the 25 central committee seats.

"If I choose number one also they can find fault with me, they say that I'm a man in a hurry, I want to topple the president, all kinds of allegations coming, I go for number two also they say why I didn't go for number one, this is not a fair allegation," he said.

On the other hand, Liow welcomed the monitoring by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over alleged money politics taking place in the run-up to the MCA polls.

"I welcome the monitoring (by MACC) as we also hear complaints of money politics in the party, this is unhealthy.

"The secretary-general has issued a statement that there are complaints of money politics in the party, so I criticise this phenomenon. We must stop all actions that destroy the party. Stop all these money politics, MCA should rise above money politics," he said.

TV debate ‘not feasible’

On the suggestion by Tee Keat for a televised public debate to be held to enable the candidates contesting the presidency to present their case as to why they should be returned, Liow said this would not be feasible now due to the time factor.

"We don't have much time now, we'll see how it goes. The campaign now is very intense as we need to meet our delegates, we see what is the issue that arises, if there is an important issue that needs to be debated, then it's okay, it's open.

"We can debate, but it's more internal, it's a party affair, so we normally campaign within the party rather than open debate.

"If I am invited, if there's a need (to debate), I am open to it," he said.

Liow said with less than four days to go for that important day, his campaign nationwide was going well with good backing from the delegates.

- Bernama