MCA president Liow Tiong Lai is a refined leader compared to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, according to the party's publicity spokesperson Ti Lian Ker.

Furthermore, he said Liow is not saddled with a corruption charge, unlike the DAP secretary-general.

“Liow is a refined leader and has managed the Ministry of Transport without a single allegation of abuse of power, corruption or scams,” he added in a statement this morning.

Based on this, Ti argued that the chief minister lacked the moral standing to challenge Liow to a debate.

“The numerous issues raised regarding his administration and the undersea tunnel have put him in a bad light. Also, he has been charged by MACC for corruption and abuse of power,” he added.

Ti said the MCA president would consider Lim's challenge to debate once the latter redeemed himself of any wrongdoing and wished him luck in his upcoming court case.

He was responding to Lim's statement that Liow was not as bold as his predecessor Dr Chua Soi Lek for not accepting his challenge to debate on the undersea tunnel and 1MDB.

Prior to this, Lim had dismissed MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong's challenge to debate on the tunnel, saying the MCA number two was not of equal rank with him.

Meanwhile, Ti described Lim as a classic example of a street fighter.

“Someone who will play to the gallery and even resort to name calling when engaging in debates.

“In his exchanges with Wee on the undersea tunnel, he has skilfully avoided confronting or explaining the issues raised and has resorted instead to calling Wee as unfit to take him on and someone who is beneath him,” he added.

Revisiting Lim's (photo) debate with the former MCA president Chua, Ti said the chief minister did not address the issues raised but resorted to belittling MCA instead.

“Guan Eng did not play by the rules and is clearly afraid of Wee's firm grasp of the micro-issues and macro-abuses surrounding the undersea tunnel project.

“He would rather childishly continue his debate with Wee on a moderated platform in the media rather than engage in a professional debate and answer all questions and issues raised. To date, he has managed to evade all questions posed by Wee on the controversial project,” he added.

Ti said MCA urged Lim to free himself of any baggage by answering the questions posed by Wee in the name of what the chief minister often preaches - competency, accountability and transparency (CAT).