MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong has dismissed Johor DAP chief Liew Chin Tong's claim that he was pressured by Umno to clarify his alleged "Umno could lose GE14" remark in a China Press interview.

"Nonsense. He is being too imaginative,” Wee told Malaysiakini when contacted.

He reiterated that China Press had asked hypothetical questions and he replied that “politics is arts of possibility”.

“On a question about the possibility of political alliances (if MCA is wiped out), I based my answer on the point that DAP wants to destroy MCA, and not Bersatu to defeat Umno.

“At the same time, I also mentioned multiple possibilities including Malay unity. As such, the claim that I said Umno could be defeated is baseless.”

Yesterday, China Press quoted Wee as predicting that even if Pakatan Harapan won the next general election, should Bersatu fail to get the most seats, it may cooperate with the biggest opposition party then, Umno, to form the government.

This prompted Liew to interpret Wee as recognising that Umno may lose in the upcoming general election. Wee said this interpretation was out of context.

'I don't think Wee was misquoted'

Liew, however, was not convinced by Wee's clarification.

“First, Wee denied Umno will lose power. Even in the so-called 'clarification' that Wee forced China Press to put forward, the line of thought is clear.

“What Wee was trying to imply is that post-election, Bersatu leaders will return to Umno if Umno remains in power and even if Harapan wins but Bersatu doesn’t get a dominant position, Dr Mahathir Mohammad will align the party with Umno, which is still likely to have some seats even in opposition.

"(This is) in order to be in a dominant position vis-a-vis other parties so that Mahathir can promote his son Mukhriz as future PM.

“Therefore, as Wee was trying to imply, Bersatu and Mahathir cannot be trusted, and Bersatu is the same as Umno.”

“Was Wee misquoted? I don’t think so," he said.

Liew (photo) posited that the minister in the Prime Minister's Department did not expect him to interpret the statement to the English and Malay media straight away without first debating the matter in the Chinese press.

He added that his interpretation likely caused Wee to get a scolding from his "Umno boss".

The Kluang MP said some Chinese voters still doubt the sincerity of Bersatu leaders and worry that it would be like Semangat 46, which eventually returned to the fold of Umno.

“Wee was trying to appeal to this sentiment in his interview with China Press," he said.