Former MCA ministers and deputy ministers should not run for the presidency and other important central posts in the party's upcoming election.

This is the strong message sent out by the party's former president Dr Chua Soi Lek to MCA members, including his son Chua Tee Yong.

"I feel that all the three ministers and four deputy ministers of the previous administration, and that includes (my son) Chua Tee Yong, should not contest at all," he said.

MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong is the only ex-minister who has announced his candidacy for the party president post.

"I urged him (Tee Yong) for the love of the party, don't stand (in the party's central leadership election). Don't just love the presidency," Soi Lek added.

"When you talk about the previous administration, people will link it with 1MDB, all the corruptions and scandals," he said, adding these cases, once taken to court would drag on for some time.

He said these leaders should give way to others, whom he thought carried no political baggage of the previous administration and "could win the respect, confidence and support" of the people.

The former health minister said he would support Kluang division chief Gan Peng Sieu (below) if the latter runs for the presidency, and would even campaign for Gan if he was asked to.

Meanwhile, Soi Lek also endorsed his lieutenant and Johor MCA deputy chief Tee Siew Kiong's decision to run for deputy president post.

The Nov 4 party election could see Wee and his running mate Perak chief Dr Mah Hang Soon going against Gan, who is expected to team up with Tee.

Wee's team includes MCA Youth chief Chong Sin and Chew Mei Fun, who are expected to contest the vice-president posts. Both were deputy ministers under previous administration.

MCA president Liow Tiong Lai and secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan, both former minister, had announced that would not contest in the coming party poll.

While Tee Yong and former Deputy Finance Minister Lee Chee Leong had decided not to defend their vice president posts.

In today's press conference, Soi Lek also slammed Liow and Wee for failing to transform MCA, adding that the party rift has worsened under their leadership leading up to the recent general election.

"They avoided all major issues in the past general election.

"In the public speeches, they spoke only about China's Belt Road Initiative. A lot members were fed up and the people hate MCA and BN," he said.

Liow's 'sacking Umno' remark 'a joke', says Soi Lek

Soi Lek said this "talent" still shows in MCA's stand on Umno.

"This talent of avoiding major issues is now in display, which is whether MCA should remain in BN.

"Liow said MCA may sack Umno, this is something illogical. It has to be a unanimous decision by all parties to sack one party. (I wonder) if MCA has the consensus of other parties to sack Umno.

"This is a joke. How are you going to sack Umno when you only have one MP while Umno has 49 MPs?

"Whether you like it or not, Umno is still the biggest (opposition) party in Malaysia," he said.

"Why make life so difficult to sack Umno from BN, why can't you leave BN? Why don't you want to address this issue which is a major concern to all MCA members ?" he said, adding the Umno-PAS cooperation is fatal to MCA.

He also criticised MCA leaders who campaigned for PAS in the recent Seri Setia by-election and having PAS campaign for them in return for the Balakong polls.

"Malaysians today want to embrace the parties that practise moderation and diversity (and) that would not use religion and race as political tools.

"So, they would reject MCA if it cooperates with PAS," he added.