Wee Ka Siong - the only MCA parliamentary candidate to survive the onslaught that was the 14th general election - has formally announced that he will be contesting for the party presidency.

According to China Press, Wee said that he has the responsibility as the sole MP to spearhead the reforms in the party as MCA’s fortunes have reached a new low-water mark.

Asked if he has a running mate, Wee reportedly said MCA cannot afford further factionalism in the party.

Instead, he hoped that the most capable leaders would rise to the top and cooperate with one another.

Wee is currently the party deputy president. He reportedly made the announcement in Johor Bahru where he is also the local MCA division chief.

MCA’s hold of the Dewan Rakyat has been on the decline since the 12th general election in 2008, where its number of MPs fell from 31 to 15, and then a mere seven following the 13th general election in 2013.

The party fielded 39 candidates to contest in federal constituencies during the GE14, but only Wee survived the contest and became the Ayer Hitam MP.

In addition to Wee, MCA also has two state assemblypersons.  

Following the outcome of the election, the incumbent MCA president Liow Tiong Lai had said that he will not be defending his party presidency to take responsibility for the loss.