At a solidarity rally ahead of the upcoming 14th general election, MCA president Liow Tiong Lai said today that there are no plans for the party to merge with its BN ally Gerakan.

Speaking at the MCA-Gerakan "Stronger Together, One Heart" gathering held at Wisma MCA in Kuala Lumpur, Liow also said the two parties would instead strengthen their cooperation to better serve the people.

"Some media friends might want to view today's assembly as a prelude to a MCA-Gerakan merger. It is obvious that we will not merge.

"But we will come under the BN spirit as one team, and send an important message to all our respective party members, that from the top-down and bottom-up, we are working together," said Liow in his keynote address.

Though founded as a multiracial platform, Gerakan is now a Chinese-majority party.

In promising better coordination of government mechanisms intended to assist the people, Liow said that one area of focus for both parties is Chinese-medium education.

"For instance, MCA and Gerakan will in the next three years jointly see through the construction of 10 all-new sekolah jenis kebangsaan (Cina) (national type Chinese schools) and the relocation of another six, to ensure that Chinese education continues to flourish," he told 2,500 members from MCA and Gerakan divisions across the country.

In his speech, Liow also recalled how both MCA and Gerakan had suffered "severe losses" during the 13th general election.

This had prompted the two parties to decide to opt out of joining Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's cabinet, and Liow claimed the move saw them further being sidelined from support of the Chinese Malaysian community.

"But later on, MCA decided to enter the cabinet, while (Gerakan president) Mah Siew Keong was appointed as a cabinet minister after winning the Teluk Intan by-election.

"Only then, did the voice of the Chinese community return to the government administration," he said.

Liow added he had five meetings with Mah in just the past two months, as well as a joint meeting together with Najib, to discuss closer cooperation between their two parties.

At a press conference later, Mah said he still expressed hope that BN would ultimately become "one multiracial party."

"10 years ago, I did suggest that. And I still hope in the long term, BN will be one multiracial party. 

"That's an aim. Maybe that is not the time yet," said Mah when asked about the proposal he mooted a decade ago when serving as Gerakan Youth chief.

Mah explained that BN component parties were formed in the 1950s, at a time when the major races were still divided.

"But you look at now, this time, Mahathir and Muhyiddin can (still) form a pribumi party. At this time they still form one.

"The trend (of new race-based parties) shows us we are not ready," he said, adding that Gerakan will continue to uphold its multiracial approach, amid ongoing discussions with MCA on issues pertaining to the Chinese Malaysian community.