MCA deputy president Liow Tiong Lai has played down the exodus of attendees at a MCA dinner while party president Dr Chua Soi Lek was speaking.

NONE Liow said this was not an indication of diminishing support for the BN component party, claiming that it gains a lot of support for its "many mega-dinner events".

“In fact, when I was in Kampar last Saturday, there were more than 600 tables. Even though it was raining, the crowd still supported us," he told a press conference today after opening a national stem cell congress in Kuala Lumpur.

“It doesn’t mean that if someone leaves (the event), there must be a serious issue. It doesn’t mean that they (the crowd) are not giving us support.”

'Johor our stronghold'

Asked whether Johor is still MCA’s stronghold, Liow replied in the affirmative.

“Johor is still definitely our stronghold. We are working hard to transmit our message to the people not only in Johor, but throughout the country.”

He reiterated that Malaysia needs stability in order to progress and transform into a developed nation by 2020.

MCA chua soi lek PC In the last general election, MCA won seven parliamentary seats in Johor, nearly half of its nationwide total of 15.

According to a China Press report today, about 20 percent of an estimated 15,000 people at the dinner - held on Saturday in Kulai, Johor - left when Chua ( right ) was delivering a speech.

The organisers of the event themed ‘Stability above chaos’ however blamed the exodus on participants leaving early to beat the traffic.

The report said the crowd left, possibly due to the fact that all the courses of the meal had been served.

In his speech, Chua challenged rivals DAP to nominate a Chinese candidate for the Johor menteri besar's post, given that the opposition party has always claimed that Chinese voters are "kingmakers".

Should the DAP announce a Chinese candidate, he added with obvious sarcasm, he would consider casting his vote in favour of Pakatan Rakyat's candidate.

‘Stem-cell research law not required’

In a separate development, Liow, who is also health minister, said there is no need for a separate law to regulate stem cell research.

“The Medical Act is enough to regulate (stem cell) researchers to abide by the guidelines.”

He said the current four guidelines are sufficient to protect patients in stem cell treatment and research.

He also announced that the Health Ministry is providing 80 postgraduate medical sub-speciality fellowships in collaboration with the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland in 2013.