Dr Chua also said that his age would be a determining factor as to whether he will contest in Johor. — file picKUALA LUMPUR, May 8 — MCA President Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek today said that the party’s platform for the coming general election will revolve around economic issues, adding that its candidate list is “ready”.

“The main issue will be the economy,” he said, when asked what MCA will focus on in the 13th general elections, expected to be called soon.

“Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) major weakness is that they don’t talk about the economy. They only talk about the economy from the point of bringing down the level of corruption and abuses of power, but that by itself will not lead Malaysia to be a high-income nation,” he said in a press conference today.

“The government is also trying its best to bring down corruption,” he said, adding that MCA sees “the need to support the government’s transformation programmes” to improve the country’s annual economic growth.

When asked about MCA’s candidate list for the election, Chua said “the list is ready but the prime minister has not asked for it yet” and added that it will feature a mix of old and new faces from both genders.

He added that all current MCA members of parliament (MP) and state assemblymen are “winnable candidates”.

“The list can never be finalised as people always change. The voters may change and there may be better candidates who are more suitable as time passes,” he said.

“As far as candidates are concerned, we go for winnable candidates. It’ll be the people’s candidate. It need not be the president’s candidate.”

When asked whether he will contest in Johor, Chua said, “A factor that makes me hesitate to say yes or no immediately is my age.”

“I don’t have the luxury like the rest of the PR leaders who can serve as long as they want.”