Twenty-one MCA divisions in Perak have expressed support for party president Dr Chua Soi Lek to defend his seat in the party polls in December.

MCA national organising secretary Tan Chin Meng said MCA needed a competent leader to ensure smooth changes that would strengthen the party and restore it to its former glory after the big defeat it suffered in the last general election.

He said after the party's poor performance in the 13th General Election, there were a handful of members led by MCA deputy president Liow Tiong Lai who blamed the MCA president for this (poor performance).

However, the action was unwarranted as the party president should not be the only one to be taken to task for its poor performance.

"In fact, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai should also shoulder part of the responsibility, since he was the chairman of the general election preparation committee, and as such, played a bigger role in preparing for the election," he said.

- Bernama