MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek has said that he is willing to quit if his deputy Liow Tiong Lai is prepared to do the same.

"I am willing to go, but I want Liow to follow me," Chua told a press conference at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.

NONE"This is a painful decision, for I have worked with him for four years. He is a weak leader, without his own stand. When there is a big issue, he will 'seam' (escape in Hokkien)," he added.

To prove his point, he said Liow (left), who is also Bentong MP, had complaint of being bullied by the "tainted" president, referring to himself, who has no government position at all.

"If he can't even face me, how is he going to face the opposition and Umno leaders?" Chua asked.

Some had said that the party under Liow's leadership, will become another Gerakan, he said, however, refusing to tell what exactly wrong with Gerakan.

"I love the party more than (my) presidency. This is an acid test for Liow, to show that he loves the party more than the presidency, and I believe his love for the party will prevails, " Chua said.

Chua, however, didn't not give a definite answer when asked if he would still choose to leave should Liow wish to contest in the party election.

Instead, he said senior leaders in the party needs to make sacrifices for the sake of party unity and transformation, so that party can become stronger.

Chua further explained that he was fearful that unless both leaders step down together, supporters from either divide would not be satisfied and party infighting would persist.

He was speaking during a press conference on the reasons Chua’s faction called for a extraordinary general meeting (EGM), which sought to censure Liow and the party’s decision to shun government posts, two months ahead of party polls and its annual general meeting.

Regardless of how the central delegates voted in the EGM, which falls on Oct 20, Chua maintained that Liow should still step down.

Chua willing to help new leadership

When asked why not let the grassroots decide during the party election, Chua said the party needed some time to groom younger leaders, with the capability, courage and vision to assume party leadership.

NONEChua then proceeded to list approximately 20 names of members he felt possessed the qualities needed to lead the party, including MCA youth chief Wee Ka Siong (right), Labis parliamentarian Chua Tee Yong, Johor exco Tee Siew Kiong, Bukit Bintang chief Frankie Gan, and MCA vice-president Gan Ping Sieu.

"I am not pinpointing any of them as my successor, but (I feel that) they have the potential to be groomed as leaders," he said.

In explaining the importance of rejuvenation within the party, he said MCA will face the next general election with up to seven million voters aged below 35-years-old, and as such, future leaders must be able to mix with the young voters.

He added he is more than willing to help the new leadership, if his help was needed.

"If the new president says my help is not needed, then I will tell him or her thank you and sayonara (farewell).

"The EGM is not meant to pave the way for me to defend my presidency, don't underestimate me," he said.

Resuming his attack on Liow, Chua pointed out that as MCA’s general election preperation committee chief, Liow should have visited 127 constituencies where MCA candidates contested.

"This he has failed as he visited less than ten constituencies, mainly travelling to Bentong and Pahang," he claimed.

Hence, he said the EGM would act as a platform to send a clear message to senior leaders that the party expects them to perform.

On the urgency for the grassroot to vote on the party’s decision against to shun government posts during the EGM, Chua explained that certain government position tenure will end by year-end, so an early decision could this prevent the position from being filled by others, he said.