MCA president Chua Soi Lek has dismissed the accusation of his deputy Liow Tiong Lai, who had openly called him a “dictator” last weekend.

Instead, he said that he will “take it all in my stride”, and added that Liow has the freedom of speech to say what he wants.

"They say it is in time of crisis that you see the quality of leadership, understand? How he react in a crisis.

"Some leaders are damn good. When there is a crisis, they are still smiling, cracking jokes.

"Some just cannot. Some will strike out to show that they are fierce when they have never been fierce in their life.

"To me, I take it all in my stride, but I’m definitely not a dictator," said Chua during a press conference after chairing the party’s presidential council meeting.

Last Sunday, the usually soft-spoken Liow let his emotions known, calling Chua a " dictator ", "obtrusive" and "a spin doctor" repeatedly in Mandarin.

Liow's outburst follows Chua's claim that the former had put pressure on latter to step down as MCA president.

Chua noted that Liow has the freedom to express himself, added that he understand Liow’s mood when some decision were not favourable to him.

However, he stressed that he always made sure that Liow attend any important party function and provided him the chance to speak

'Not seeking re-election'

Meanwhile, Soi Lek reiterated his position that he would not be seeking re-election during the party elections in December.

"Until today, I have never said I will seek for re-election, it is the fear and speculation that is unfounded," he said.

Yesterday, his son Tee Yong had vowed to stay out of the election if the  father was contesting.

Tee Yong said he had to state his stand on this in order to refute rumours that Soi Lek was trying to pave a way for him to become the party's deputy president.

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