The general election will be called in September, said MCA president Chua Soi Lek in a media interview yesterday.

Speaking to Chinese weekly Red Tomato , Chua, who faces an uphill task in hauling his party out of a major upset in the last GE, also said he would allow detractors to contest as long as they are "winnable candidates".

"(Detractors) Ong Tee Kiat and Chew Mei Fun can contest if they think they are winnable candidates," he said.

When asked how he would judge a winnable candidate, he said, "The rakyat have mouths, they will provide feedback. I have ears, I can listen."

In the two-page interview with The Star -owned weekly, Chua added MCA will drop constituencies with "zero winnability".

"Sometimes this is due to the voters' choice, but if any individual insists on serving in such constituencies, I won't stop them as well," he said.

He, meanwhile, suggested that the government release audio footage of cabinet meetings every now and then so that the Chinese will appreciate the interracial relations they enjoy and the role that every BN party plays in the government.