“I want the party to look good, to be seen as a party of principle, and to get the Chinese to support us again,” he said.

The current MCA crisis had been sparked by party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat’s push to oust his deputy and enemy Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

An EGM was called after Dr Chua’s membership was suspended, where delegates passed by a wafer-thin majority a no-confidence vote against Ong and restored Dr Chua’s membership.

But delegates defeated a motion to specifically reinstate Dr Chua as deputy president.

Ong, citing the party constitution which says he can only be forced out by a two-thirds majority of delegates, refused to resign even though he had promised to do so earlier.

The party central committee then appointed Liow to be the new MCA No. 2.

But after the intervention of Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Ong and Dr Chua made peace.

This week the Registrar of Societies also declared Dr Chua as the rightful No. 2. A central committee stacked with Ong and Dr Chua’s supporters endorsed this decision.

Liow has said he reserves the right to challenge in court the decision to replace him as No. 2. His supporters are also pushing to hold another EGM to pave the way for fresh elections.

“When I say I reserve the right to go to court it does not mean I am fighting for the position.

“Right now I just want to uphold the constitutional right of delegates and members to re-elect their leaders.”

Liow, who has been indirectly referred to by Ong as “Brutus” and called a power-crazy traitor by the president’s supporters, said he was shocked by the accusations hurled at him.

“Yes I was supporting Ong Tee Keat until the 10/10 EGM. But once the delegates made their decision I had to support their decision.

“They say I am a traitor but I am trying to hold on to the principle of democracy. I never asked for the position (deputy president). The party made a decision to appoint a new deputy.”

Liow said it was quite clear that a majority of the delegates made a decision which pointed towards fresh elections.

While BN chairman Najib is hoping that the peace plan between Ong and Dr Chua will hold and put an end to the infighting, signs are that will not happen.

Many in the broader Chinese community, including those in the guilds and clan associations, have looked upon the antics with some distaste.

Ong, the party president, has been blamed for much of the troubles MCA finds itself in.

Scathing editorials in the fiercely-independent Chinese newspapers have pointed the fingers at Ong.

This week, Sin Chew Daily, the country’s No. 1 Chinese newspaper, even went to the extent of calling Ong the worst MCA president in history.