The MCA is streamlining its party machinery in preparation for the next general election, party deputy president Liow Tiong Lai said today.

He said all party members were committed towards achieving MCA's desire to ensure a BN victory in the next general election, due in

2013, and ward off the numerous allegations of the opposition parties against the BN government.

"We hope the party members can convey to the people the efforts taken by the government to implement programmes for the good of the people ... we want to ensure that the people maintain confidence in the nation's leadership," he told reporters after opening the semifinal of the MCA national political lecture in Kuala Lumpur.

The two-day competition, which began yesterday, will see 21 contestants enter the final scheduled for Nov 13 and 14 at the Kolej Selatan in Skudai, Johor.

Liow, who is the health minister, said the competition was also a

preparatory measure of the party to train and identify talents to become spokesmen for the party.

"I am convinced that through the MCA and the grassroots leaders we can pool resources to give undivided support to the 1Malaysia concept which has been well accepted by all the communities, including the Chinese," he said.

He also said that the BN victory in the Galas state by-election in Kelantan and the Batu Sapi parliamentary by-election in Sabah on Thursday proved that the Chinese were giving greater support to the government.

- Bernama