In a telephone interview with The Malaysian Insider, Lim (left), who is Penang Chief Minister, claimed that the newly-elected MCA president’s move in courting Chinese groups to take part in MCA’s highest party proceedings was a method to increase his personal influence and presence.

“I can understand his frustration, you cannot blame his efforts to increase his strength. He is naturally frustrated, embarrassed since the Chinese organisations have backtracked from attending (the presidential council meeting),” said Lim.

Lim’s remarks come as a response to Dr Chua’s criticisms against Lim for speaking out at the inclusion of the Chinese guilds in MCA’s apex council.

Earlier today, Bernama had reported Dr Chua as “taking a swipe” at Lim for “purposely politicising” issues related to the Chinese community.

Instead, the MCA head had stated that the party would not politicise issues that need to be confronted by MCA and the Chinese community.

“We are not in the politics of politicising issues, we are in the politics of solving issues,” he had told reporters after chairing the party’s presidential council meeting at Wisma MCA.

Bernama had also reported that leaders of the three guilds, Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) president Tan Sri William Cheng, Hua Zhong president Tan Sri Pheng Yin Huah and Malaysian Seven Major Clans Association chairman Datuk Koong Heng Sze had attended part of the meeting.

However, Lim claimed that the guilds had only attended a discussion after the presidential council meeting had adjourned, and were not party to the council’s proceedings.

“He (Dr Chua) is the one that started all this... this has resulted in the Chinese organisations initially accepting, then rejecting (the invitation).”

“Any self-respecting organisation would not want to become an appendage, a vassal to MCA. They had realised this after I had pointed it out to them, had they attended they would end up a vassal... that is why they did not attend (the presidential council meeting),” added Lim.

Lim has been a vocal critic of Chinese organisations attending top party meetings, saying it could jeopardise the organisations’ independence in fighting for their respective causes.