Newly appointed MCA deputy president Liow Tiong Lai is unfazed by former deputy Dr Chua Soi Lek's intention to appeal to the Registrar of Societies (ROS) against his appointment.

He said that whatever referal made to the ROS in regard to the deputy president's position, that body ultimately has to depend on the party constitution for its decision as it is the highest authority.

NONE "Everyone must abide by the party constitution. In my appointment, the central committee has gone through every required process," he said.

Liow ( left ) pointed out that firstly, it was the delegates at the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) who had arrived at the decision based on Article 174 of the constitution.

"When it was confirmed that there was a vacancy, Articles 23 and 40 were evoked to fill the vacancy," he said.

He maintained that the party had gone through the due process and in line with the spirit of the party's constitution.

Chua sacking was collective decision

Responding to rumours that he had asked embattled party president Ong Tee Keat to fire Chua, he said: "The decision was made by the disciplinary committee and presidential council. Later, there was also a discussion on it in the central committee. It was a collective decision."

He spoke to reporters after an Aidilfitri feast with ministry officials, staff and 30 orphans, at the Health Ministry, Putrajaya.

NONE In response to allegations that he is trying to unseat Ong Tee Keat ( right ) as president, Liow said: "I'm upset because people are saying that I have betrayed a friend and partner."

He also said that before Ong went overseas last week, he had spoken of his intention to resign.

"That is the reason why we brought it up for discussion during the central committee meeting. It was never mine or the central committee's intention to topple the president," he said.

When asked to describe his relationship with Ong now, Liow said: "We have a cordial relationship. I still speak to him over the phone. Let us settle the party disputes."

Political assassination plot and the family

He said that they have yet to decide the date for the next central committee meeting.

Earlier, Liow expressed his unhappiness at his family members being been dragged into the public eye.

NONE "This is a malicious attack that is politically motivated and maybe related to the infighting in MCA," he said during a press conference at parliament this morning.

"I hope people will not resort to this kind of dirty tactics to politically assassinate me," he added.

Meanwhile, Liow, who is also health minister, said that his ministry will no longer be issuing daily updates on the number of H1N1 cases.

Instead they will be weekly updates since the number of cases had gone down, he said.

He added that the number of H1N1 patients warded in intensive care units across the country has dropped from 50 to five, as of today.