MCA has mobilised all the party election machinery in Malacca to ensure victory for the BN candidate in the Merlimau by-election.

Its president Dr Chua Soi Lek said he had instructed the party machinery to work hard to ensure the Chinese community continued to support BN.

He said there were 2,312 Chinese voters out of the 10,679 registered voters in the Merlimau constituency.

"In any state by-elections, even if the candidate is not from MCA, we have to work hard in the spirit of BN comradeship," he told reporters after a meeting with the state MCA liaison committee at Wisma MCA in Malacca today.

Also present were Malacca MCA liaison chairperson Gan Tian Loo and the state MCA secretary, Koh Nai.

Dr Chua said Gan would lead the MCA machinery at the state-level, while Jasin MCA division head Koh Chin Han would oversee at Jasin level.

The Merlimau state by-election is called following the death of its incumbent Mohamad Hidhir Abu Hassan, from Umno, last Jan 20 due to a heart attack.

The Election Commission has set Feb 26 as nomination day for the by-election, and if there is a contest, polling will be on March 6.

- Bernama