KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 — In his bid for the MCA president’s hat, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai unveiled today his nine-point manifesto that he believes will save the Barisan Nasional (BN) party from fading into oblivion following its dismal performance in the May 5 general election.

With an eye on reversing MCA’s fortunes in the 14th general elections, the deputy MCA president presented a blueprint he said will make the BN founding partner grow “dynamic, confident and effective” again, as he vowed to correct its weaknesses and focus on rebuilding the party wrecked by internal squabbling.

“Comrades, we have four years till the next general election. In this time we cannot allow the MCA to fade into oblivion. We must move ahead for the future,” the Bentong MP said when launching the manifesto for his campaign titled “For our next generation, chart a new course!”

Speaking to hundreds of MCA members wearing Liow’s campaign T-shirts in either blue or red, the Bentong MP acknowledged MCA’s bruising losses in Election 2008 and Election 2013.

“The MCA is today facing its greatest challenge since its inception. We have been humiliated and we now face annihilation. The dismal results should be a wake-up call for all of us,” the former health minister said, later saying that party members must “inform, reform and perform”.

“I cannot and will not allow our great party to fade into irrelevance or collapse as a result of the selfish acts of a few,” he also said in the speech, but did not elaborate on who he was referring to.

In a bilingual booklet that was distributed at the launch, nine points are listed down as embodying Liow’s push for reform, including the planned reaffirmation of MCA’s political standing and power as a founding member of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.

Liow also pledged to institutionalise education using the Chinese-language as a medium, promising to fight for the right to vernacular education, besides ensuring transparent reforms to MCA.

He promised to upgrade MCA’s campaign methods for the general elections, including taking it online by engaging cyber troopers as well as strengthening the party’s leadership and youth and women wings.

In a news conference later, Liow elaborated on plans to correct the perception that Umno was dominating the BN coalition.

“MCA is part of Barisan Nasional and we would like to ensure that our presence in Barisan Nasional is meaningful, relevant and can speak out for the Chinese and resolve Chinese issues effectively.

“It is the hope and vision of the Chinese community to see MCA come back strong, able to represent the Chinese community,” he told reporters, with his manifesto stating that MCA will seek to promote dialogue within the BN coalition and voice out disagreements and discontent.

In the manifesto, Liow stated that his aim is for MCA to have the “final say” on issues faced by the Chinese community, saying that other BN parties must respect the Chinese-based party’s right to do so.

When asked whether MCA will revisit its stand to refuse Cabinet positions, Liow said it was a matter that should be decided by the party’s central delegates.

In the race for the MCA presidency, Liow is up against former MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and current MCA vice-president Gan Ping Sieu.

MCA will hold its party election when it convenes its annual general meeting from December 19 to 21.

In Election 2013, MCA won only seven parliamentary seats and 11 state seats in what is said to be its worst polls performance to date.

BN retained its hold on power, with Umno winning the lion’s share of the coalition’s parliamentary seats.