Soi Lek won't contest in GE13

Dr Chua Soi Lek will not be contesting in the general election, thus becoming the first MCA president not to be fielded.

Chua said that this will help the party's rejuvenation process by allowing new faces to emerge and allow him lead MCA's campaign nationwide.

"Today I am walking the talk in allowing new and young leaders in the rejuvenation process so that the party will continue to remain relevant.

"For all these fight and articulation that I have been talking, it would be very self serving if I were to declare myself as a candidate.

"I want to proove a point that I am fighting for a cause, that MCA remains relevant and continue to lead the party without standing for elected public office," said Chua in a press release today.

Chua said that nearly half of the candidates MCA will be fielded comprise of new faces and the party is confident that they have a formidable team able to "put up a good challenge".

'I'm a full time president'

He said that this was part of the party's reinvigoration process, following its internal party squabbles between 2008 and 2010.

Chua said that after he took helm in March 2010, he had worked full time to turn the party around and the party was more focused, united and motivated.

"In the history of MCA, this is the first time that there is a full time party president.

"I wish to continue that role in the general election where I can campaign full time for Barisan Nasional candidates, particularly for MCA," he said.

Previously, Chua had claimed that he was a "winnable candidateanywhere I go" in response to his predecessor Ong Tee Keat's claims that the former's sex scandal had bogged the party down.