"I am not being sarcastic. I am being honest and earnest."

This was Dr Chua Soi Lek's response to a question regarding his remark that MCA's "pure as crystal" candidate Chew Mei Fun would trounce her "tainted" rival in the Kajang electoral bout.

Asked to rate the MCA vice-president's chances in the March 23 by-election, the former party president, without the slightest hesitation, remarked sarcastically: "She will roar to victory."

Since her candidacy was announced, MCA has been reminding voters of how Chew ( far right ), who is facing Anwar Ibrahim in the upcoming contest, had bravely resigned as party’s Wanita chief in 2010 after Chua became president.

Her reason was that Chua was a "tainted" politician due to his involvement in an extramarital affair that was caught on tape.

After the video was made public, Chua, who was then vice-president and health minister, resigned from all his posts, but was later re-elected as president.

Speaking to Malaysiakini yesterday, the former president repeatedly referred to Chew's resignation and there appeared to be no love lost between the two.

"She is a lady of integrity, she is pure without a blotch. She believes that those with tainted reputation have no support.

"Anwar has a tainted reputation as well. He was convicted (of sodomy), acquitted and is now awaiting trial (the prosecution has appealed against his acquittal).

"There is also a video of him, for which he has not given satisfactory answers. So to Chew, Anwar is tainted as well and therefore has no support.

"So, based on this simple logic, I can only say that she will roar to victory as she is as pure as crystal compared with Anwar," Chua said.

Liow will deliver us from darkness

Once again denying that he was delivering sarcastic blows, Chua said that MCA's fortunes in the by-election are bright because of the leadership of his successor Liow Tiong Lai.

It is common knowledge that Chua and Liow are at loggerheads, with the former having recently accused his successor of reneging on their peace deal.

"Because of Liow ( far right ), MCA has reformed... The party has changed so much... In their minds, if they have minister posts, the problems of the Chinese will be solved," said the former president.

"In those days, when we had (cabinet) posts, the Chinese were not happy as well and this was an indictment on all MCA ministers of the past.

"Now with this (Liow's) team, we are all very hopeful that we will no longer be trapped in darkness... These ministers and deputy ministers will provide light at the end of the tunnel."

Chua was referring to the extraordinary general meeting called by Liow and his camp on Feb 23, which voted in favour of accepting cabinet positions.

Following the party's dismal performance in the last general election, MCA, under the stewardship of Chua, had decided not to accept the positions.

But this decision was reversed by the party after Liow was elected MCA president.