If there's anything that can be read from MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek's advice to his Gerakan counterpart Koh Tsu Koon, it's this - face your party's impending mutiny in Penang.

NONE Chua ( right ), with typical bluntness, said it is at Penang Gerakan's extraordinary general meeting this Sunday where Koh is most needed, and not at MCA's annual general meeting in Kuala Lumpur on the same day.

"I thank the president of Gerakan for taking time off to attend my AGM, but as a colleague, my advice to him is to spend that time to resolve the issue of the EGM," he said today.

Fielding questions from reporters during an interview with selected media organisations, Chua seemed to pick up from where Gerakan advisor Lim Keng Yaik left off, though the former took a more subtle tone.

Yesterday, Lim branded Koh as an "ostrich" over the latter's handling of the Penang leadership crisis, where state chief Teng Hock Nam could possibly be overthrown by a faction that calls itself Gerakkanlah Gerakan .

Lim lambasted Koh for the latter's fear of "offending" people in choosing to steer clear of the party's Penang crisis, saying Koh's "attitude is akin to an ostrich burying its head in the ground".

Chua noted that Gerakan needs Koh's guidance in managing its leadership crisis as he is the president and an experienced party man.

azlan "I think the party needs his wisdom and experience to resolve this issue, rather than to attend our AGM, because that role (as a guest at MCA's meeting) is a very passive role.

"I'm a very pragmatic person; I'm not trying to be funny or to offend anybody. Don't get me wrong, please," he said, eliciting snickers from the journalists present.

Chua's predecessor, Ong Tee Keat, was also not spared the jibes as the former shrugged off the past president's absence at MCA's AGM this weekend.

Answering a question on the significance of Ong's absence as he is believed to be going on holiday overseas, Chua said he "hopes he enjoys his holiday".

"I wish him the best, have a safe journey, enjoy his holiday and return safely. As a saying in Malay goes, selamat pergi, selamat kembali ke tanahair (safe departure, safe return to your motherland)," he said.

‘Not selling stake in The Star'

On the question of MCA's divestment of its shares in Media Chinese International Ltd, Chua said that is about as much as the party is willing to part with for now.

azalan MCA currently owns a controlling stake in The Star and several radio stations through its investment arm, Huaren Holdings Sdn Bhd.

" Star is a listed company, and like all listed companies it's up for sale any time. If you have enough money you can take over any company, but right now, we are not considering selling our stake as yet," he said.

He declined to respond to a question from Malaysiakini on whether Umno should sell its stake in Malay daily Utusan Malaysia , instead turning the tables and asking if Malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan should remain in his position.

"Can I ask you, do you think Steven Gan is suitable to be Malaysiakini (editor-in-chief) or should he promote you instead? I think Steven Gan will think you are better. I tell him la, okay?" he retorted.