MCA is now in an intensive care unit (ICU) following the 14th general election general election, said former president Dr Chua Soi Lek.  

He said MCA's fate may have been different had the party stuck with his decision not to join the cabinet after its poor showing in the 13th general election, which saw MCA only winning seven parliamentary and 11 state seats.

Chua's decision was reversed after he retired as MCA president in December 2013.

"Not entering the cabinet gives MCA the freedom and space to transform.

"MCA fortune in the May 9 general election could be different if we continue to remain outside the government.

"Today MCA is like the patient in ICU with no doctors to give the right prescription," he said in a Facebook posting.

MCA won only one parliamentary seat and two state seats in the May 9 general election.

In a separate posting, Chua also denied that he will be forming a new political party.

He said even though he had retired, he had never abandoned the party but it was the party leadership that abandoned him.

He reminded his party colleagues that after the 2008, 2013 and 2018 general elections, MCA was "politically ill".

"MCA factional politics is toxic and self-destructive.

"After three general election debacles, if MCA comrade cannot wake up to the political reality, I fear that MCA may be doomed," he said.